Even something as simple as cooking pasta has mistakes. Yet it would be very easy. With just a few tips and tricks, you can make your pasta taste just like in Italy.
The most common mistakes when preparing pasta
1. There is not enough salt in the cooking water
This is perhaps the biggest mistake you can make. If you don’t properly salt the cooking water for the pasta, the pasta will definitely taste bland afterwards. You can properly salt the water. Try the cooking water. Perfect for pasta if the taste is almost too salty.
2. The oil in the cooking water
In the past, it was often recommended to add a high-quality oil to the cooking water for pasta. This should prevent the pasta from sticking together. The oil in the cooking water is not only a waste of oil, but unfortunately also means that the sauce does not adhere very well to the pasta afterwards. But that’s exactly what’s important for a good pasta dish. There are other solutions to prevent the pasta from sticking together in the pot: Get a large enough pot and stir carefully while the pasta is cooking. This ensures that the pasta does not stick together.
3. Pasta put in non-boiling water
Pasta is always put in the pot while the water is boiling. If you put the pasta in cold water, it will soften and dissolve. Also, they stick together so strongly that they will definitely not be al dente.
4. Over or undercooking the pasta
Always pay attention to the advice on the packaging. Different types of pasta have different cooking times. As a general rule, pasta takes an average of eight to ten minutes to cook. If you’re not sure, take a noodle out of the pot and try it. The pasta should not be too soft yet, as it will continue to stretch a little in the strainer and with the sauce.
5. Discard the pasta water
Be sure to add a few spoonfuls of pasta water after draining the pasta and adding it back to the pan to mix with the sauce. This provides a special creaminess. The sauce combines well with the pasta and does not stick together.
6. Rinse the pasta
Never shock pasta with cold water. This will wash the starch from the pasta and prevent the sauce from sticking well to the pasta. After draining the pasta and adding it to the pan to mix with the sauce, be sure to add a few spoons of pasta water first.