We all cook pasta because it is usually pretty easy and quick to make for dinner but sometimes a very small change in how you do it makes a big difference in the end result. Here are ten simple little tweaks you can try the next time you are having a spaghetti night at home.
Use Plenty Of Salt In The Boiling Water
Always put a good amount of salt into your pot of boiling water. This is the only chance you have to season the actual noodles. Without salt the pasta stays tasteless even with sauce. Just one scoop of salt makes a massive difference.
Give The Noodles Enough Room To Move Around
Don’t crowd your noodles in a tiny pot of water. This mistake makes the water too cold and ruins the texture of your food. Pick a large pot instead. The extra room ensures the pasta does not stick together and it cooks through very nicely.
Skip Adding Oil To The Cooking Water
Oil in the water is not helpful for your cooking. It creates a slippery wall on the outside of each noodle. When you add your sauce it simply drips away to the bottom. For the best taste you should leave the oil in the pantry.
Wait For A Full Rolling Boil First
It is very tempting to throw the pasta in early when you are in a rush but waiting for big rolling bubbles is important. If the water is not hot enough when you start the pasta just gets gummy and sits there.
Stir The Pasta Immediately After Dropping It In
The starch on the outside of dry noodles turns into glue in hot water. This causes the pasta to stick to the pot or itself. You should stir it immediately to keep the pieces separate. Doing this one small thing improves the final dish’s texture.
Save A Cup Of The Starchy Cooking Water
Before you drain the pot into the sink scoop out a mug of that cloudy water because it is full of useful starch. Adding a splash of this liquid to your sauce helps it thicken up nicely and stick to the pasta beautifully.
Taste The Noodles Before You Drain Them
The time printed on the box is usually just a guess so you should fish out a noodle and bite it to see if it is ready for you. You generally want it to still have a tiny bit of chewiness right in the middle.
Never Rinse Hot Pasta Under Cold Water
When you rinse hot noodles you lose the starch that helps everything taste much better. This coating is the secret to getting sauce to cling to every single bite. Do not do it unless you want cold pasta for a salad meal right now.
Finish Cooking The Pasta In The Sauce Pan
Most people cook pasta too long in the water. Try stopping early and finishing it in the sauce. This lets the noodles drink up the sauce. It builds a much deeper flavor in the dish. It is a quick fix for a better dinner every single night.
Match The Shape To The Right Sauce
You should always pick a pasta shape that fits your sauce well. Thick sauces with meat need big tubes so the food stays inside. Thin sauces made of oil or cream are better for long noodles. This simple trick makes every single bite taste better.
