How To

How to Use a Pasta Blanching Basket

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)

If you've ever ordered a pasta dish at a restaurant and wondered why it only took a few minutes to prepare, you are not alone. Most restaurants use a technique called blanching. The pasta is prepared during the day by their prep cooks and then stored. When you order it, they toss it into a pasta blanching basket and your 20 minute fettucini alfredo order just took half the time. Here is how to use a pasta blanching basket.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Pasta blanching basket
  • Stock pot
  • Pre-cooked pasta
  1. Step 1

    Measure your pasta blanching basket with your pot. Pasta blanching baskets come in all sizes to fit every size pot imaginable. Because the basket rests on top of the pot, it must fit properly to avoid the pasta either spilling into the water or not reaching the water at all. The pasta blanching basket should securely fit on both ends of the pot.

  2. Step 2

    Boil water in your pot. People have different things they like to do to their boiling water before adding pasta. Maybe sprinkle a pinch of salt or add a dash of olive oil. But the most important thing is that you bring that water to a boil.

  3. Step 3

    Add the pasta to the pasta blanching basket. From your pre-made pasta that you earlier prepared, place the desired amount in the basket.

  4. Step 4

    Blanche the pasta in the boiling water. Place the pasta in the water for 2 to 3 minutes or until al dente. Then remove the basket from the water. Shake the excess water vigorously. Then plate or combine in a sauce pan with the desired sauce depending on the recipe.

Tips & Warnings
  • This is an excellent idea for a dinner party. Make the pasta during the day, then when the guests arrive and it's time for the main course, give the pasta a quick blanching before serving. Your guests will be impressed on how you pulled everything together with expert timing.
  • Don't under cook your pasta when you pre-make it earlier in the day. You are literally only dipping it back in the water for a couple of minutes. The pasta won't have time to "cook" so much as just "heat-up." So cook your pasta as you normally would the first time.

Post a Comment

Post a Comment

Have you done this? Click here to let us know.

I Did This

Related Ads

Food & Drink
Bethenny Frankel,

Meet Bethenny Frankel eHow’s Food & Drink Expert.

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.   en-US

eHow Food and Drink
eHow_eHow Food and Drink