I have to cook enough spaghetti for about 18 people. How do I keep it all from sticking together?

Question

Do I cook it in smaller batches (the spaghetti noodles)? and again how do I keep it from sticking together?(the spaghetti noodles)

Answer 1

NOODLE HOT DISH FOR 100 PEOPLE

12 lbs. hamburger
8 (1 lb.) pkgs. noodles
4 to 6 med. onions, chopped
1 lg. bunch celery, chopped
1 gal. can whole tomatoes
6 cans cream of mushroom soup

Cook noodles to tender. Brown hamburger, onions and celery. Mix in tomatoes and soup. Pour sauce over noodles. Bake 1 1/2 hours at 350 degrees.

Answer 2

A pound of spaghetti will easily feed four people. (I said people-not gluttens!) So you're probably going to want 4-1/2 to 5 pounds to feed 18. To accomplish this and the amount of starch generated you would want to use two very large pots and add cooking oil to the boiling water just before adding the pasta. This will coat the pasta and keep it from sticking together.
Another technique I use is putting my spaghetti in the culander directly over the cooking liquid when aldenti which keeps it both hot and moist so it won't stick either.
We are Italian and my mother used to just boil away and then rinse and drown it in butter. I'm a little more health conscience so I use the first method with olive oil. Yeah, I know the olive oil cost more to be wasting it on that however, it has two purposes. One, it's much healthier than the other oils and two it is the perfered flavor that Italians adore!

Answer 3

Paddy, your best bet is to get several large pots going at once. Figure on about 1/2 pound per person and you can usually get close to 2 lbs (2 regular boxes) in one good-sized stockpot. You're going to have to do smaller batches unless you have a pot that can handle 9 pounds of pasta! Add a dot of olive oil to the water as its beginning to boil and be sure it's at a good rolling boil before you add the noodles. Stir it every few minutes to keep it loose and set a timer based on the package directions. Have your colander all set and a large bowl to hold the cooked noodles. Again, if you drizzle a little olive oil over the noodles and toss them up a bit they shouldn't stick.
Good luck!

Answer 4

Throw a splash of olive oil into the water and stir often and well. When you put the cooked spaghetti into a bowl for serving, add a splash of olive oil and mix well. Try it out on a small personal batch and see how it works.

Answer 5

Frequent stirring, a little olive oil in the water (1/2 - 1 teaspoon) helps. Don't put spaghetti in until water is a rolling boil. Add a little at a time and let the water return to boiling before adding the next bunch. Stir, Stir, Stir.

Answer 6

Make sure you have enough water in the pot. Depending on the size of your pots you may need several pots to cook for 18 people. Instead of just cooking the spaghetti in salt water, cook them in beef or chicken broth and add butter to the boiling water. Once you have added the spaghetti stir them well. Don't overcook them! Drain the pasta when they are still firm ('al dente'). When drained, and just before serving add again butter and toss.

Answer 7

Never put oil in the water for pasta. The sauce will not stick. Just use smaller batches of pasta.

When pasta is cooked- drain and place in a bowl or dish with room temperature water. The pasta will not stick.

Answer 8

Add a little cooking oil to the water, and stir ofter while cooking. After you drain them pour a little olive or cooking oil over noodles, and stir to coat. This should eliminate the sticking together.

Answer 9

Use a large pot and add enough water fill it up, allow the water to boil then add salt and a little bit of olive oil add one pack at a time and stir it while it's cooking to make sure it's not sticking. After it is done drain it and add alittle more olive oil to add that extra flavor it should come out good. Good Luck!

Answer 10

You can actually cook your pasta ahead of time and store it in ziplock bags in the refrigerator.

To store cooked pasta:

* While pasta is still warm, toss with 1-3 teaspoons of plain vegetable oil so the strands don't stick together when they cool.
* Place the pasta in a food storage bag and set it, unsealed, in the refrigerator.
* When the pasta is cool, seal the bag and lightly toss the bag to make sure the pasta is not sticking together.
* You can reheat the pasta by dropping into a pot of rapidly boiling water for 30-60 seconds, just until hot. Do not leave the pasta in the water for longer than one minute! Continue with the recipe.