Healthy Living in Austin, Texas

Everyone has their own tricks and tips for cooking pasta perfectly. I’m sure you’ve been guilty of doing these things once or twice ( I know I have ) but I’m here to disspell the myths and stop you from throwing pasta at your wall.

1. Myth: Throw a piece of pasta against the wall. If it sticks, it’s perfectly cooked.

Truth: Both undercooked and overcooked pasta can stick to the wall, and stickiness has nothing to do with tenderness. Pasta is naturally starchy and is coated in a thin layer that acts like glue. Instead, taste your pasta periodically during the cooking process to make sure your pasta is perfectly al dente.

2. Myth: Adding salt to water makes it boil faster.

Truth: Adding salt to water will actually do the opposite and increase the boiling point. Salt is used to season the pasta, not speed things up.

3. Myth: Rinsing pasta under cold water after cooking will prevent it from getting mushy.

Truth: Unless you want to quickly cool pasta for a salad, rinsing should be avoided. Rinsing removes all of the pasta’s starchy goodness and changes its silky texture.

4. Myth: Adding olive oil to the water will prevent your pasta from sticking to itself.

Truth: Adding oil to your water is a waste and will not prevent sticking. He recommends simply giving it a good stir instead.

5. Myth: Drain your pasta until it’s completely dry to prevent watering down your sauce.

Truth: A bit of cooking water won’t water down the sauce. The starchy liquid actually binds sauces and creates a smoother texture.

6. Myth: Pasta should only be cooked in salted water.

Truth: While cooking pasta in salted water is the most common method, pasta can be cooked in a variety of liquids to change its flavor and color.

So now that we’ve uncovered some of the answers about pasta, LET’S EAT!

Your Realtor and Friend for Life~ Kathy

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