How to Cook Dry Pasta

Boiling pasta is a simple task that helps complete a meal.

Whether you're an experienced cook or a novice in the kitchen trying to impress a date, cooking pasta is an absolutely necessary skill. Luckily, boiling pasta is a simple task, and adding a marinara sauce or another dressing to the pasta makes a tasty meal any time of the year. You can buy dry pasta in many different sizes, styles and flavors.

Things You'll Need

• Stockpot
• Saucepan
• Salt
• Pasta
• Colander
• Spoon
• Serving dish

Instructions

1. Fill a stockpot or large saucepan about 3/4 full with cold water, depending on how much pasta you want to cook.

2. Place the pot on a burner and heat on high heat until the water is boiling. Once boiling, add salt to the water -- about 1 teaspoon for each quart of water.

3. Add the pasta to the boiling water. Once it starts to soften, stir the pasta with a spoon until it's completely under the water. While you are doing this. the temperature of the water will drop below boiling. This is normal.

4. Add the lid to the pot and continue cooking until the water begins to boil again.

5. Once boiling, remove the lid and cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally. Follow the instructions for how long to boil the pasta, typically checking it at the earlier end of the suggested cooking time.

6. Test the pasta by biting a small piece. If the center is still hard and white, you need to continue boiling it until it is soft, but firm.

7. Remove the pot from the burner and drain the contents into a colander in the sink once the pasta is finished cooking. Shake all excess water from the pasta.

8. Pour the pasta into a serving bowl and add sauces and spices according to the recipe you're following. Serve immediately for best results.

References

• Anna Maria's Open Kitchen: How to Cook Pasta