Cooking Tips for Perfect Pasta Every Time

Do you know how to cook the perfect pasta? Our customers and friends regularly ask us questions about how they should be cooking pasta, and to see if they are doing it “right”. We found that many people cook their pasta the way they do because “it’s the way my parents taught me” but many don’t know if it’s the best way. If you want to know whether your parents taught you right, or you simply want to master the art of pasta cooking, check out our pasta cooking tips below and…welcome perfect al dente pasta!

Cooking Tips for Perfect Pasta Every Time!

TIP 1: Sauce too thick
If the pasta sauce is too thick, add some of the pasta cooking water to the sauce, and mix until it is combined.

TIP 2: Don’t add oil to the cooking water
There are a number of myths about cooking pasta, like adding oil to the water before adding the pasta. If you have sufficient water and the right size pot, you do not need to add oil.

TIP 3: How much pasta per person
A recommended serving of pasta is 80g of uncooked pasta person for an entrée and 100g of uncooked pasta per person for a main meal. Watch Donna cook 3 types of pasta and show you what it looks like uncooked and cooked by clicking here.

TIP 4: How much water to use
For every 50g – 100g of uncooked pasta, you need  1L. For example: 5L of water is required to cook a 500g – 1kg packet of pasta.

TIP 5: Using salt to cook pasta
Always cook pasta in salted water. The amount of salt will vary depending on the size of your saucepan. The minimum amount of salt is 1 – 2 pinches.

TIP 6: Running cold water over cooked Pasta
If you are cooking pasta at home for your family, there is no need to run cold water over cooked, drained pasta. If you run cold water over cooked pasta you will:

• wash off the flavour the salted water has given the pasta;
• eat cold pasta;
• overcook the pasta, as you’ll need to reheat it once it’s added to sauce; and
• wash off the starch, which aids the sauce to coat the pasta.

To see Donna explain it for you, click here.

TIP 7: Wooden spoon trick
When you add salt to boiling water, place your wooden spoon in the water first then add the salt. This will minimise the water boiling up over the pot.

TIP 8: Defrosting pasta before cooking
Do not defrost gnocchi or other frozen filled products before cooking. Take the frozen products from the freezer and place into boiling salted water. Cooking time will be according to the cooking instructions or until your desired taste.

TIP 9: Refreezing
Do not refreeze a product that has been frozen or thawed.

TIP 10: Perfect Gnocchi
Place the gnocchi in boiling water and do not stir. Once gnocchi float to the top of the pot, they are ready to take out. Remove gnocchi with a slotted spoon or hand strainer and place directly into heated sauce, tossing them gently.

TIP 11: Angelo’s dry Lasagna Sheets
Angelo’s dry lasagna sheets need to be boiled prior to assembling your home-made lasagna.

TIP 12: Make sure the water is boiling 
Ensure the water in your pot is boiling with vigorous bubbles before adding the pasta.

When following these tips, make sure to add a pinch of  laughter and a handful of love – those two ingredients are a must when cooking any dish!

..baci a tutti..xx