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It won't stick together like that if you actually wait for the water to come to a proper boil before you add the pasta
this post was submitted on 23 Oct 2023
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For small portions that probably will work. Plenty of times Iβve put pasta in only to have it stick if I donβt stir a little in the first minute or two. Thereβs just not enough room for the boiling to agitate the pasta enough to prevent sticking.
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I wonder wtf you guys do to your pasta, it's like the easiest thing to cook... Boil water, add salt, wait for the time written on the box (or just look at it, you'll see when it's done).
I don't think they boil the water. Must be that. No other way I can think why it would stick.
If you donβt stir the pasta adequately after adding it to the pot that can make it stick together. Source: my husband does this all the freaking time.
Your stir at the beginning to ensure that each piece of pasta is properly engulfed by water. But after that there really shouldn't be much need of stirring, the pasta moves around in the water on its own.
Sometimes I just hold the pot handle and swish it around slightly. Never had a problem with sticking. It seems like an infomercial problem.
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Also, if the pan isn't large enough the pasta will stick I think. I say I think because despite having cooked pasta hundreds of times I've never had this happen lol
pan
*visible confusion*
After cooking the pasta just short of done, many toss them in the sauce pan and let them finish cooking in the sauce for a more even pasta-to-sauce-distribution. Saves you the hassle of portioning your sauce.
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Some bad celebrity chef at some point told Americans that you have to put olive oil in the water to prevent sticking.
Like....no. Just stir it occasionally lol
Stir at the beginning for 45 seconds so that the pasta don't stick then let the boiling water move the pasta and cook them. Simple.
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Cooking pasta correctly is an art, but there are some basic rules to follow if you want consistent results.
If you want to avoid this situation in particular, take the pasta out just before it's done along with about 1/4 cup of the water and add both to your sauce and finish cooking the pasta there. You'll end up with pasta that is cooked perfectly with a sauce that readily adheres to each noodle and no stickyness
This is the way. Once I learned the pasta water trick, I never looked back.
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How much is one cup? A big one or a small one? I have several
237 mL. It's a US unit.
Edit: I just realized I have a 2-cup measuring cup and I've never noticed how weird that sounds until now.
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This shouldn't happen unless you overcook your pasta. When the water starts boiling, toss in some salt and then the pasta. Wait for length of time on the pasta package. Then remove from heat and drain. If it still gets sticky, buy a better quality pasta.
If you cook with less water, you need to stir.
I have never once oiled my pasta water. I have also never once had my pasta stick. Just add enough water, boil, salt, pasta. Cook til it's done, I literally never stir the pasta. Test for texture every so often. Drain, save some water for marrying with the sauce better.
Edit cool -> cook ty autocorrect.
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I've never oiled my pasta water before. It's really simple: use the minumum amount of water to fully boil the pasta, salt the water, wait until the water comes to a full boil, then put the pasta in, regular spaghetti takes about 6-7 minutes to become al dente.
Oil the pasta after you strain it is the way you prevent it from sticking together.
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Never had pasta stick in the boiling water, dunno what some people are doing to their pasta here. Best thing is just taking it right from the boiling water to the sauce before it's done, add some pasta water in there, last thing toss a bit of olive oil in. Throw basil on top to serve if extra fancy.
Gluten free pasta is much worse. If you don't stir it a lot for the first 3-4 minutes it WILL stick together.
Noodles are tasty
That's all I know, and at this point I'm afraid to learn more
About with what others have said, you should not stir it so often or you damage it! Usually I stir it only about twice during the boil.
If you cook in 5-10l of water you will dilute the starch and the pasta won't stick. Also if you mix the sauce through the pasta post cooking and let it rest for 5-10 mins it will soak up the sauce
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