How to Cook Pasta Perfectly

Make the most of your favorite homemade pasta sauce recipes – red pasta sauce and creamy pasta sauce by learning how to cook pasta perfectly! 

Pasta recipes are hearty, enjoyable, and satisfying, perfect for any day, especially celebrations. Once you master how to cook pasta, you can pair it with any homemade pasta sauce! 

You can make it a fun meal for kids and adults. Today, you will also discover how to make pasta flavorful even on its own. The pasta will also have the perfect texture for the best dining experience. 

Bring out the Italian chef in you, and let’s cook some pasta!

How to Cook Pasta Perfectly

Would you believe me if I said that trying to cook pasta is easier than it seems? All it takes is a few simple steps and ingredients! Before you know it, you’ll be cooking pasta like a pro. 

Ingredients

Here’s a short list of the ingredients you will need to cook pasta:

Spaghetti

Did you know that the word “spaghetti” comes from the word “Spago” which means “string”? It is a fitting name because of spaghetti’s thin and string-like quality. 

This pasta is made of milled wheat and water, but authentic Italian spaghetti is usually made from durum wheat semolina. It’s one of the best pasta to cook because it can go with lots of homemade sauces and toppings!

What health benefits can you get from spaghetti?

• Spaghetti is a good source of carbohydrates that are good for your energy, brain, heart, and kidneys. 
• According to Very Well Fit, spaghetti is fiber-rich to help with digestion. 
• Keep your heart healthy with a moderated consumption of spaghetti. 
• Pasta Pantry also suggests eating pasta for a balanced diet with protein and vegetables. 
• Spaghetti has lots of selenium to boost your immunity. 

What’s your favorite spaghetti recipe? I love this one-pot red pasta sauce spaghetti recipe best!

Coconut oil

Aside from coconut oil, you can also use other oils like olive oil to cook pasta. Oil can prevent the spaghetti strands from sticking together. It can also make the pasta chewy and smooth.

Water

Cook the pasta in the water to soften the strands for the best texture. Once the pasta is done, don’t throw away the pasta water because it can add great flavor to your sauces. 

Sea salt

You don’t want to eat bland pasta, do you? Martha Stewart suggests adding salt to improve the flavor of the pasta. The amount of salt also depends on your salt tolerance. But a tablespoon of salt can make the dish salty, so use it moderately. 

Get these four ingredients to prepare the best pasta ever! 

Directions to Cook Pasta

Just follow these steps to cook pasta perfectly:

1. Boil water in a pot over medium heat. 
2. Add coconut oil (or any oil of your choice).
3. Then, season it with sea salt. 
4. Stir the mixture with a spatula. 
5. Add in the spaghetti until submerged in the water. 
6. Spread the spaghetti evenly. 
7. Cover and cook for ten minutes. 
8. Then, separate the strands using a fork. 
9. Cook for five more minutes. 
10. Drain the pasta water into a bowl using a colander. 
11. Serve the spaghetti on a plate and top it off with your favorite pasta sauce! 

How did your spaghetti turn out? This guide on how to cook pasta perfectly is fool-proof! Share it with your family and friends to help them cook their own version of pasta.

Tips

Buying pasta

• Epicurious suggests buying pasta with a short list of ingredients for high quality.
• Go for pasta with pale yellow to white color. 
• You can also buy matte or sandy pasta to combine it well with the sauce. 
• Aside from spaghetti, you may try other pasta like penne, fettuccine, and more!

Storing pasta

• According to Share The Pasta, uncooked pasta is stored in a cool and dry place for a year. 
• Transfer them into an airtight container. 

Making pasta at home

If you’re feeling creative today, then why not try to make homemade pasta? You just need the following ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, beaten

Here’s how you can make the pasta:

1. Mix the flour and salt in a bowl. 
2. Dig a well in the middle and pour in the beaten egg. 
3. Stir them together until you form the dough. 
4. Then, add water if needed. 
5. Knead the dough on a flat and lightly floured surface until ready. 
6. Roll it out with a rolling pin or a pasta machine until you get your preferred thickness. 
7. Slice the dough into trips or mold it into your desired shape. 

Alternative Ways to Cook Pasta

No pot or stove? Try any of the following alternative ways to cook pasta. 

Oven

1. Add your pasta to an oven-safe dish. 
2. Submerge the pasta in water. 
3. Cover the dish with one or two layers of aluminum foil. 
4. Then, cook the pasta in a preheated oven at 100°C.
5. Bake it for ten minutes or until done.

Instant Pot

1. Mix the water, salt, and pasta in the instant pot. 
2. Set the instant pot on high-pressure cooker mode for five minutes with natural release. 
3. Cook the pasta until done. 

Microwave

1. Add water and pasta to a microwave-safe dish. 
2. Microwave the pasta three minutes longer than what it says on the packaging. 
3. Then, check the pasta for doneness before removing it from the heat. 
4. Drain the water. 

Recommended Tools

• Pot: Cook pasta in a clean pot. 
• Spatula: Stir the contents using a spatula.
• Fork: Check the pasta for doneness with a fork. 
• Colander: Drain the pasta water using a colander.

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How to Serve Pasta

Serving pasta is just as easy as cooking it! 

Put spaghetti pasta on a plate and just drizzle it with your favorite sauces. You can also use it to make sun-dried tomato pasta, creamy pasta sauce, and garnish with herbs and spices for additional color and flavor.

Here are some of the best red sauce pasta recipes to make with spaghetti:

• One-Pot Spaghetti
• Spaghetti Bolognese
• Spaghetti in Chicken Breast Sauce

Moreover, you can also use other kinds of pasta for different recipes. Use beef, chicken, vegetables, and other ingredients to make savory and delicious sauces! 

Storage Tips

• At room temperature: Once you cook pasta, it can last only up to two hours at room temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to cook pasta step by step?

Here are the four steps to cook pasta:

1. Boil water with oil and salt. 
2. Then, add in the pasta. 
3. Stir the paste occasionally until cooked. 
4. Drain the water using a colander and put the pasta on a plate.

How do you properly cook pasta?

Cook pasta with enough water, oil, and sea salt. Boil the water with oil and sea salt. Then, add in your pasta. Cook it for 10 to 20 minutes or until done. 

Spread the pasta evenly to cook thoroughly. Then, drain and save the pasta water using a colander for sauces. 

How long do you cook pasta for?

Cooking time can depend on the pasta you use. Check the cooking instructions for the proper time to cook it. Generally, pasta needs about 10 to 15 minutes to cook.

How do you cook enough pasta?

Know the number of people you’re cooking for and the amount of sauce that you have. Also, cook pasta that will give your guests a decent serving size.