How long does it take for pasta to become overcooked and how do you tell?

Answer 1

PERFECT PASTA EVERYTIME (the name says it all)
1 lb. uncooked spaghetti
1 gal. water, rolling boil

Place spaghetti into a deep pot of boiling, salted water. The salt & excess water help to prevent sticking, & allows the starch to cook off. After adding spaghetti, return the water to a rolling boil (do NOT cover with lid). Boil spaghetti for 2 MINUTES EXACTLY, then cover with lid, & remove pot from fire, let set for 5 MINUTES for el dente (firm) spaghetti. Drain, toss with oil or butter—olive oil is best. Or better yet, instead of coating with oil or butter mix in a LITTLE bit of the sauce, because adding oil may keep the sauce from sticking to the pasta.

The same can be done with any type of pasta. Just adjust cooking & standing time according to size & thickness of pasta being cooked.

NOTE: 1 lb. uncooked spaghetti equals 4 servings, or so they say! It really depends on size of the appetite!

TIPS:
Never add salt to pasta water, because it will make the pasta tough.
When draining pasta in a colander heat the colander with hot water first, because a cold colander will make the pasta stick together.

Answer 2

Make sure the water is rapidly boiling when you place the pasta in.
Heavily salt the water.

NEVER put oil in the water. It removes the starch (flavor) from the pasta.

Assuming you are using dried pasta (you will know if you're not), cook for 1-2 minutes less the instructions on the package. Make sure you give the pasta a stir every couple minutes to prevent sticking. You can always give it the bite test. If there is white in the middle, it probably needs a little more time.

Strain well. Immediately drop in the sauce, and cook for 30 seconds in the sauce. This way, the sauce goes into the noodles, not just on top of them.

Answer 3

The basic rule is 8 minutes in boiling salted water for perfectly cooked pasta. If you like it al dente then go for 7 minutes. Rinse in cold water immediately after to stop the cooking process. So, anything after 8 mins. and not rinsing it will result in overcooked pasta.

Answer 4

READ the directions on the box and follow them.

If you don't want to do that you can try this: An old grandmother told me to bring the water to a boil. Make sure you added salt to the water. When it comes to the boil, add the pasta. Remove the pot from the stove, cover it and let sit for seven minutes. Perfect pasta every time.

Answer 5

Depends on what type of pasta it is (Spaghetti, Penne, Rigatoni, etc...) - it's usually best to follow box directions on store bought pasta, and go with the "bite test" with homemade ones, as pasta can cook anywhere from 5 to 14 minutes, or even one hour for some types of lasagna.

Answer 6

Pasta should always be cooked "Al Dente" - which means that it should have a little give to it, but not be mushy. Once pasta turns mushy it means that the contents of the pasta has turned to sugar which in turn makes the pasta very difficult to digest. I know you wouln't want to give your dinner mates an upset stomach! :)

Answer 7

Depends on the type of pasta.
For regular spaghetti no more than 15-20 minutes in boiling water.
The pasta will get soggy and pasty and eventually turn into starchy water.

Answer 8

I recommend reading the box for best info on how long to boil it. Otherwise, 8-15 minutes will do it, and you should take one piece out, run cold water on it, and taste it. Or you can throw it at the ceiling. If it sticks, it's done.

Answer 9

i don't know the exact minutes but i never leave my cooking pasta unattended b/c it can happen in an instant, usually i just take a strang out ever couple of minutes and taste it, if it's under cooked it gets stuck in your teeth, if it's over cooked you don't need to chew and it swells up and looses a bit of color

Answer 10

Fresh or dried? Fresh should only take about two minutes, but dried 8-10 (check the package). If you go too far, it just gets mushy.