Many do not know how to cook pasta so that they do not stick together. It happens that instead of mouth-watering “horns” or spirals, you get real porridge that you don’t even want to eat. This often happens due to non-compliance with the rules of their cooking and subsequent processing.
Material Content:
How to cook pasta so that they do not stick together
It is always advisable to purchase pasta from durum wheat flour - they don’t tend to digest and therefore they do not turn into an unappetizing mess. On a pack of good products should be written: "Group A". In addition, such products are useful, have a low glycemic index and do not contribute to weight gain, if you use them in moderation. Of course, a quality product is more expensive, but it is really worth it.
In the pan
Macaroni should always be boiled in enough water so that they do not contact much with each other.
For 100 g of products you need to take at least a liter of water, plus 10 g of salt. The amount of the latter can be varied to your liking, but taking less liquid is not worth it.
Based on this, you need to choose the capacity. For example, a pasta pack of 450 g must be cooked in a pot with a capacity of at least 4 liters. Then there will be just enough space between the products so that the pasta does not boil and stick together.
It is necessary to bring water to a boil over high heat for a short period of time, adding salt to it. Macaroni should be dipped in boiling water and boiled without a lid over the same fire. Do not throw products into a warm or hot liquid.As soon as the pasta is lowered into the pan, the water immediately ceases to boil, so you need to quickly mix the contents of the dishes and cover it so that the boiling process resumes quickly. After 40-60 seconds, the cover is removed, otherwise the liquid will leak.
In a slow cooker
The cooking method in the “smart pan” depends on the quality of the product. Cheap pasta needs to be cooked like this:
- Pour boiling water into the bowl, add salt and pour oil.
- Put the horns or shells and mix.
- Cover the lid. Run the program “Steamed”, “Macaroni” or “Pilaf” for 10 - 20 minutes.
Quality pasta must be prepared differently:
- Put the items in the bowl.
- Pour enough cold salt water. No need to mix.
- Cook under the lid in any of the indicated modes
If suddenly instead of the expected friable noodles a lump has turned out, the situation can still be corrected. Of course, this will affect the taste, but there are no other options for saving the side dish. Such pasta must be thoroughly washed in cold water, then either add oil and mix well, or fry in a pan, or pour any liquid sauce into them. This will make sticky products relatively edible.
In the microwave
To cook “decent” pasta in the microwave, you need to do this:
- Put 200 g of pasta in a pan.
- Pour 3 liters of salted boiling water. Cover with a lid.
- Put the container in the oven and turn it on at maximum power for 7 minutes.
- Turn off the appliance.
- Leave the product in water for another 7 minutes.
- Throw it in a colander.
When the water drains, immediately fill the noodles with oil or gravy.
The secrets of cooking pasta
Equally important is the quality of water. Similar products absorb about 30% of the liquid, so it should be clean, high-quality and tasty.
Be sure to read the instructions. It always indicates how to cook pasta, and how much time it takes. But you need to consider that if the products are served with sauce, then they need to be cooked not until fully prepared, but to the state of al dente. In such cases, the paste inside is a little harsh, and the outside is elastic. Under the influence of the sauce, it will pick up the missing moisture and get the optimal consistency.
It is very important not to digest the product, as it cools in any case when it cools.
Ready pasta or noodles do not need to be washed with cold tap water. But this rule applies only to high-quality durum wheat products. They just need to be thrown back into a colander and let the liquid drain. When the moisture is gone, the pasta needs to be returned back, season with a few tablespoons of vegetable oil and mix well several times. Rinse such pasta with cold water is only possible in such cases:
- they will be used to make salad;
- the sauce is not ready yet, and the pasta is already ready.
If these are cheap "horns" or spirals, they must be washed, otherwise they will simply turn into a dough.
The product is best served freshly cooked and hot. Having stood the night in the refrigerator, even the most delicious pasta will lose a significant part of its taste. Therefore, it is always better to cook a dish at once: it is both healthier and tastier. You can only fill noodles with butter if it is eaten right away. Cooling, the oil will thicken and taste bad.
Preparing pasta so that it does not stick together is very simple. It is only necessary to observe simple rules and not to ignore them.
