Making pasta, and 3 pots were ruined. Always comes out too soft or too hard. gurrrr!!!!! Have to get dinner on the table (the man is getting hungery) haahahaa. But really, promised him a nice home cooked meal...and would really like to make it without cheating. (have the resturant on speed dial just in case) But please drop hints and advise. Thanks.
2007-03-20 08:08:26 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Other - Food & Drink
pour oil in the pot and a dash of salt. stand by it and keep checking it. throw a strand against the wall to see if it sticks. My boyfriend and I love doing that.
2007-03-20 08:11:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
O Boy! First, you have to use a big pot, like a Dutch Oven. You need a LOT more water than the amount of pasta you are putting in. First bring the water to a full rolling boil. Put in the dry pasta, and start stirring immediately. Don't leave the kitchen, because depending on the type of pasta it may be cooked from five to 13 minutes! Use the guideline on the package as just a guideline, and always go with the lower number. Keep stirring the pasta as it comes back to a boil, then lower the heat to medium - or whatever setting on your element that will keep it at a simmer (still bubbling). Keep stirring - doesn't have to be constant, but once in a while. An ordinary pasta like penne, bowties, or spaghetti takes close to 10 min, but you need to check. Just scoop up a piece, let cool and bite. If it crunches, it's not done. What you want is "al dente", which means "to the teeth" - there should be just a little resistance when you bite into it. There's nothing worse than mushy pasta in my opinion. When you think it is done, turn off the element, and strain it RIGHT AWAY into a colander in the sink. (some people think you can leave it in the water, even for a while, but you can't) Give it a shake, put it back in the pot, add some margarine or a bit of oil and stir it through. Cover.
Hopefully, this will get you edible pasta.
2007-03-20 15:16:24 · answer #2 · answered by Lydia 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
(1)Use a pan large enough to cook pasta.
(2)Fill it with the amount of water, according to the package directions. Add a little bit of cooking oil to the water, then cover.
(3)On "High" bring the water to a full boil, w/lid on the pan, then add the spaghetti, slowly. No lid needed while cooking spaghetti or the water will boil over
(4) Once you have added all the spaghetti you wish to cook, wait for the water to come to a boil again, then set the timer for cooking time, again, following the directions on the package.
(5) Stir the spaghetti from time to time, so it won't stick together, even though you have already added the oil.
(6) When the timer goes off, take a strand of spaghetti out of the pan, to test it for tenderness, by eating some or all.
(7) If / when it's done to your liking, carefully take the pan to the sink, add cold tap water to it & stir slightly. This will stop the spaghetti from any further cooking & the spaghetti will not stick together once you put it in a serving dish
(8) Pour into a colender to drain completely.
(9) Pour spaghetti into a serving bowl
Following these steps, I have never had a disaster cooking spaghetti. Bon Apetit
2007-03-20 15:32:35 · answer #3 · answered by Shortstuff13 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How do you ruin pasta? How do you ruin your pots while cooking pasta? Have never heard of this.
Bring 4 cups water to a boil. Drop pasta in boiling water. Cook UNCOVERED for number of minutes shown on the package - varies depending on type of pasta you are cooking. Stir frequently so pasta does not stick to the bottom of the pot.
Remove pasta from boiling water and drain in colander. Run HOT (never cold) water over drained pasta sitting in colander. Serve!
2007-03-20 15:12:09 · answer #4 · answered by kja63 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
put a large pot of water on the stove to boil. Add about 2 tsp of olive oil and some salt and bring to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and stir it in. Cover the pot up and make sure to stir about every 4 minutes. after 8 minutes take a noodle out and throw it at the wall. If it sticks, it is done - if not, repeat this process about every three or four minutes until you get one that sticks.
Also, if you use barilla (plus is my favorite) cooking is much easier. Good luck!
2007-03-20 15:12:43 · answer #5 · answered by Shannon 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Read and follow the directions on the box for how to cook the pasta and don't leave it alone while it is cooking! If you can boil water you should be able to boil pasta.
2007-03-20 15:28:33 · answer #6 · answered by justme 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
BUTTER BUTTER BUTTER - Keep testing and stirring your pasta, oh wait --
first, boil the water, then once it's boiling put the pasta in, don't put the pasta in and then cook the water and pasta
use a dab of salt
then stir and poke at it until it's the way you want, then strain the pasta, run cool water over it -it will still be hot
then add the butter and your sauce.
2007-03-20 15:13:17 · answer #7 · answered by princesstheruler 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
what kind of pasta are you trying to make, what kind of food. go simple, do a spaghetti. boil the water and then put the pasta, keep checking it so that it wont happen again.
2007-03-20 15:12:53 · answer #8 · answered by CSU STUDENT 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
fill your pot with water, and heat until boiling. Take your noodles and put in pot making sure your noodles don't clump together stir them frequently, continue to boil uncovered until done, this could be 15 to 25 min depends on how big the pot is for noodles.
the noodles should be flimsy when done and stick to the wall,.
2007-03-20 15:13:00 · answer #9 · answered by 2shay 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hints...use more water in the pot, it must be 75% full at least of water. After the 3 minute stage you must taste it for bite, after evry minute, to check, it must be slightly "al dente" ie have some bite in it
2007-03-20 15:12:39 · answer #10 · answered by David R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋