really dumb spaghetti question...?

Question

I want to know how i can make spaghetti from sticking when its done. am i over/under cooking it? and is it true that spaghetti is ready when it "sticks" to the wall? PLZ ANSWER! my spaghetti dinner should be ready in 20 MINUTES!~thx

Answer 1

It should take at least 10 minutes to have the pasta to become "al dente". The test to see if the pasta is ready is throwing one string of spaghetti to the refrigerator. What I usually do to keep my pasta from sticking is after I drain the water out add both some Italian season, butter and olive oil. Shake it around and voila it is ready. Ciao baby!!!

Answer 2

Sticky pasta
Spaghetti tends to stick together when strained .
Do not leave the pasta when you have strained it. You must add either butter, oil or the sauce immediately and stir it in well. If the sauce is fairly dry then add a ladle of the cooking water too.

Gooey pasta
Why is it that sometimes the pasta comes out gooey. Two common reasons are: either there was not enough water or that the pasta was not stirred initially. The correct relationship between water and pasta is 100gr of pasta to a litre of water, 4 oz. of pasta to 1 3/4 Imperial pints or 2 1/4 US pints. This requires a large high rimmed saucepan.
Adding a tsp of oil to the water helps to stop egg pasta like tagliatelle from sticking.

Soft bloated pasta
When the pasta comes out soft and bloated the most likely reason is that it has been in the water too long. This happens if you "throw" it in when the water is not yet boiling, or alternatively if you keep the heat too low and the water does not boil during the cooking.

Answer 3

No, if the spaghetti sticks to the wall it means it's overcooked. Spaghetti should be cooked al dente (firm to the tooth). The best way to stop spaghetti from sticking is once it's out of the boiling water toss the steaming pasta in olive oil.

Answer 4

I put a bit of olive oil in the boiling water ( a few tbspns)
if that is not enough then a slight drizzle and toss with olive oil when it has strained also works or imediately replace in the pot and put a samll amount of sauce on it and then mix.

Pasta is done when it is done to taste, i do not rely on the sticking to the wall thing. Take a strand out, dip it in cold water adn bite it.
feel the texture, hard= not ready, mushy= overdone.
Look at the bitten off end, when the white in the middle turns the color of the done pasta then it is done.

Shock the pasta with cold water before straining, it stops the cooking of th pasta and ensures it doesn't get mushy.

Buono Gusto.

Answer 5

Directly from Italy...
No oil, butter or anything alike in the water! DO NOT RINSE spaghetti after you drain them.... it's just insane..(cooling them down and loosing taste..). Forget about the wall, that's a stupid urban legend.
The only thing you need to do is using abundant water to boil the spaghetti, stirring them frequently and not overcook them. According to the thickness of the pasta, you should cook them for 6 to 8 minutes.

Answer 6

Add a little olive oil to the boiling water. Cook until pasta is tender, but not SOFT! (Take out a piece, and if it cuts with a fork, it is done....not as messy as throwing against a wall). Drain well. DO NOT RINSE!!! Then put into bowl and add a couple of spoons of your sauce. Toss well. Don't pour all the sauce into the pasta, just a couple spoons. It will not stick!

Answer 7

No question is dumb!

When the spaghetti is to the consistency you want shut off the water and add about 1/4 cup cold water let it sit a few seconds and serve

Answer 8

boil water with salt and olive oil in it. then put the noodles in and wait about 10 - 15 min or untill there movable. then throw it at the wall if it sticks then it is done...DO NOT leave it in the water. the longer it is in the water the more it will absorbe and get mushy. strain it and dash a lil olive oil and Salt and Pepper on it and then add it in the sauce or put a damp towel or napkin over it and serve. when you store it put it in a zip lock bag with maybe a couple drops of water to keep it moist but it will sweat from being in the cold. hope this helps!

Answer 9

I add olive oil in the water while its boiling, just before putting the spaghetti in. And then I rinse the spaghetti off in warm water.

Answer 10

To prepare my spags, I usually boil water first then add little olive oil and salt to enhance the taste. I put all the uncooked spags in and leave it there for a few minutes not forgetting to stir every now and then. To see whether or not its cooked, i get a small piece and I bite it! If its too hard for me, then I leave it there for a few more minutes. If the pasta ia already in your desired firmness, drain them and run them through cold water to stop the cooking process.