Cooking Tips

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Pasta

PASTA COOKING TIPS 
Follow these guidelines for perfectly cooked PRIMO pasta every time!

1. Use a large pot and fill it with enough water: The general rule is to use 1 litre of cold water for every 100 grams of pasta. It’s important to have enough water for the pasta to “swim,” otherwise it will become sticky and unevenly cooked.

2. Salt the water: When the water has come to a boil, add about 2 teaspoons of salt per 1 litre of water. This is the only opportunity to flavour the pasta itself. Do not add oil to the cooking water – this will prevent the sauce from sticking the pasta.

3. Bring water to a boil before adding the pasta: Allow the cooking water to come to a complete and rapid boil before adding your pasta.

4. Drop pasta in and stir: Once the water has come to a boil, drop in your pasta all at once and begin to stir immediately as the starches begin to release. Stirring will prevent the pasta from sticking together. Stir occasionally throughout the cooking process.

5. Follow the package directions for cook times: Different cuts and types of pasta will have different cook times. A couple minutes before the indicated time has been reached, test the pasta to see if it has become “al dente.” This means to taste the pasta to see that it is firm to the bite, yet cooked through. You may have to test the pasta a couple of times to achieve the desired result.

6. Reserve some cooking water: Once your pasta is ready, turn off the heat and scoop out a cup of the cooking water into a bowl. Pasta water contains rich starch that can be used later to adjust the consistency of your sauce.

7. Quickly drain the pasta: Drain the pasta into a colander. Never rinse your pasta with water as this will remove the essential starch and salt as well as cool the pasta. Retaining the starch will allow the pasta to absorb your delcious sauce.

8. Add the pasta to the sauce: Once drained, add the pasta to the warmed sauce and let the two cook together for a moment. Your saucepan needs to be wide enough to accommodate the pasta.

A Note About Cooking Gluten Free Pasta
Follow the same steps for cooking regular pasta as directed above, paying special attention the cook time on the package. Gluten Free pasta can easily become mushy and sticky if cooked for too long; therefore the cooking stage is vital. Check the pasta a few minutes before the time indicated on the box, if it is firm but cooked all the way through, quickly remove it from the heat and drain. As with regular pasta, do not rinse with water.