How to Cook Pasta
Cook dried pasta from a box perfectly with these techniques.
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Here, how to start with a box of dried pasta and transform it into a dish worthy of your favorite Italian restaurant.
How to Make Pasta
If you're feeling ambitious, head over to this guide to see how to make pasta from scratch.
How to Cook Dried Pasta, Step-by-Step
Step 1: Boil Water
Start with a very large pot of water, about 6 quarts per pound of pasta. Bring it to a rapid boil.
Step 2: Add Salt
Put in a lot of salt, about 3 tablespoons. If you taste the water, it should taste like the sea.
Step 3: Add the Pasta
Drop in the pasta while the water is at a boil and give it a gentle stir.
Step 4: Stir
Stir it occasionally while it cooks. Use the cooking time on the pasta package as a guide.
Step 5: Taste the Pasta
But watch out — it's hot! Sample the pasta at about 2 minutes shy of the indicated time. It should be al dente. You'll finish cooking it in the sauce.
Step 6: Drain
Drain the pasta. Just be sure to save about 1 cup of the pasta water. If you have a pot with a colander insert, use it to drain the pasta. If not, drain the pasta in a colander set in the sink.
Step 7: Removing Ravioli
If you're cooking ravioli, use a slotted skimmer and gently lift the ravioli a few at a time.
Step 8: Stir In the Sauce
Add the pasta to your sauce and finish cooking it in the sauce. Give it a stir to coat.
Step 9: Add Pasta Water
Ladle a few tablespoons of the pasta water at a time until you have the right consistency to your sauce. Remember, the pasta will absorb the liquid. Tip: Pasta water helps to thicken the sauce.
Step 10: Buon Appetito!
Simmer over medium-low heat — it'll help the pasta soak up the sauce. Follow your recipe's instructions for finishing the dish. And that's all there is to it. Perfecto!
How to Know When Pasta Is Al Dente
"Al dente" means "to the tooth," meaning the pasta should be cooked all the way through so it’s no longer crunchy but still has a little bite to it. Use the cooking time on the back of the pasta package as a guide. The pasta is typically al dente about 2 minutes shy of the suggested cooking time.
How Much Pasta Per Person
A pound of pasta typically feeds about 5 to 6 people. Most often, dried packages of pasta are sold in 1-pound bags.
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