There are many types of pasta and one of those is Spaghetti pasta. With so many types of spaghetti to choose from, it can be difficult to decide when to bring out your pasta. If you need help timing your pasta perfectly, check out these tips below.
Here, you’ll gonna discover the technique of how long to cook them and how to cook a scrumptious spaghetti dish. Keep reading!
The Origin
Spaghetti is a long, solid, thin, cylindrical pasta. It is a primary food of traditional Italian cuisine. Like other pasta, spaghetti is made of milled wheat and water and sometimes enhanced with vitamins and minerals. Italian spaghetti is generally made from durum wheat semolina.
Originally, spaghetti was remarkably long, but shorter lengths gained in popularity during the latter half of the 20th century and now it is most commonly available in 25 to 30 cm lengths. A range of pasta dishes are based on it and it is commonly served with tomato sauce or meat or vegetables.
10 Various Types of Pasta
- Spaghetti
- Penne
- Lasagne
- Ravioli
- Linguine
- Rigatoni
- Farfalle
- Fusilli
- Macaroni
- Cannelloni
How Long To Cook Spaghetti
The most common way to cook spaghetti is simple. Place pasta in plenty of boiling water, add salt, stir to bring to a boil, turn off heat, cover and finish cooking for 10-12 minutes. This method works perfectly.
Then strain and cool briefly, but do not rinse. Wash off the starch that helps the sauce stick to the pasta. When ready to use, add to a warm sauce and toss, and finished cooking or refrigerate for later use.
The spaghetti should be stirred occasionally during cooking. Harold McGee, an eminent American food science author, writes in his book An Encyclopedia of Kitchen Science that cooking spaghetti in a pan of cold water yields the best results.
How To Keep Spaghetti From Sticking
The first thing you should know is that adding oil to water won’t help because it floats on the water. The noodles release starch as soon as they start boiling. The surface of the pasta instantly becomes sticky when you put it in boiling water, so always stir the pot to break it up. If you keep boiling the spaghetti, the starch will melt and it won’t stick.
When To Add Salt To The Pasta Water
- Add the salt when the water comes to a boil.
- The boiling water will stir and dissolve the salt quickly.
- Adding salt to the water before boiling will damage your pot in the long run, and salt will stay at the bottom of the pot.
- Adding the salt before the water boils also turn the water to take longer to boil because of the chemical effect that appears.
- Wait until the water returns to a full, rolling boil before adding the pasta.
How To Taste Test Pasta Properly
When tasting the pasta start at 20-second intervals, a minute or two before you think it might be done. The pasta will continue to cook when added to the hot sauce. Add to sauce and finish cooking for 1 to 2 minutes until set. Taste again and eat.
Tips To Perfectly Cook The Spaghetti Pasta
- Start with cold water in a large pot.
- Use a large pot, this allows movement for the long pasta.
- Be sure you have plenty of water in the pot.
- To flavor the pasta, from inside and out, add salt to the water.
- Bring the water to a full boil before adding the spaghetti pasta.
- Stir from time to time with the proper tool to keep the pasta from sticking.
- Test the pasta two minutes before it’s cooked.
- Another Italian secret is to save a scoop of pasta water.
- Drain, toss with sauce, and serve warm.
Spaghetti Recipe With Meat Sauce
This spaghetti dish rich in tomato and meat sauce ranks high. It is quick and easy to cook for a weeknight meal.
Ingredients:
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided, plus more for the pasta water
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 (28-ounce) can of crushed tomatoes
- 1 pound dried spaghetti
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Procedures:
- Finely chop 1 medium yellow onion and mince 3 garlic cloves. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large high-sided skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion, garlic, 1 pound lean ground beef, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, if using. Cook, breaking the beef up into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until the beef is cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Carefully pour in 1 (28-ounce) can of crushed tomatoes and season with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and gently simmer uncovered until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 1 pound of dried spaghetti and cook for 1 minute less than the package instructions for al dente, about 9 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and drain the spaghetti.
- Return the pasta to the pot. Add the sauce, reserved pasta cooking water, and 2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar, and toss to combine. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, tossing continuously, until the sauce coats the pasta and everything is evenly combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve in bowls topped with lots of grated Parmesan cheese.
How To Cook The Perfect Italian Tomato Sauce
FAQs
Can We Cook Pasta In The Microwave?
That’s right, but it takes 2-3 minutes longer than on the stovetop and needs to be done in a large microwave-safe container. Save it as an emergency method if you don’t have a stove.
How Long The Cooked Pasta Will Last?
Most types of pasta can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Allow pasta to cool slightly before storing cooked pasta or leftovers. Always use suitable closed containers for storage.
Can We Freeze Cooked Pasta?
Frozen plain pasta can become mushy when thawed and reheated. Freezing is great for dishes with sauces, especially baked pasta recipes like lasagna.
Which Pasta Cooks Fast?
In general, the thinner the pasta, the faster it will cook. For instance, angel hair cooks faster than fettuccini. If you’re using a high-quality pasta that is bronze-cut, it usually has firmer grains and takes longer to cook. The more transparent and cheaper in quality, the faster they cook, but they also affect the taste.
Conclusion
For perfectly cooking spaghetti there are methods that you have to keep in mind like adding salt to boiling water, don’t rinse off with water to keep the pasta from sticking. With these simple techniques, you can cook excellent spaghetti. Just follow the steps mentioned above!