How to Cook Pasta Without It Being Too Soft and Sticky: 2 Simple Rules

12.04.2023 10:59
Updated: 15.04.2023 05:32

At first glance, there is nothing complicated about making pasta.

All you need to do is put the pan on the stove, bring the water poured into the pan to a boil, add salt, put the pasta into the boiling liquid and cook it for exactly the amount of time indicated on the product packaging.

But it's not that simple. There are a couple of important nuances, ignoring which can result in a sticky and tasteless side dish.

But if you follow the rules below, the side dish will always come out perfect.

Lots of water

Pasta, especially if it is made from durum wheat, must be cooked in a large volume of water.

pasta
Photo: © Belnovosti

Therefore, it is advisable to prepare a huge saucepan. At least six liters.

The liquid should occupy 70-75 percent of the container's volume.

Following this simple recommendation will significantly reduce the risk of pasta sticking together and turning into an unappetizing mass.

Undercook the pasta a little

It is advisable to slightly undercook high-quality pasta.

The ideal option is to finish cooking the pasta 1-2 minutes before the time indicated on the package has expired.

In other words, if the package says that the pasta should be cooked for 10 minutes, then the cooking time should be 8-9 minutes.

In this case, the cook will get the dish in the Al Dente state. In this case, the side dish will not be overcooked. On the contrary, the pasta will be moderately firm, tasty and healthier due to the low glycemic index.

Author: Kurchev Anton Deputy Editor-in-Chief

Content
  1. Lots of water
  2. Undercook the pasta a little