In theory pasta is an easy meal, but it’s not always straightforward to make perfectly the way you’ve enjoyed in Italy. There’s are a few common errors which can lead to pasta problems, so if you’ve been unhappy with the way your pasta turns out then read our quick tips and you’ll soon get the hang of it.
- Too sticky or clumpy?
- Use a large pan with at least 5 litres of water for 500g of pasta
- Cook the pasta in boiling water with the lid off after adding pasta and salt
- Too dry?
- Leave some pasta water in the pasta or set some aside to improve texture
- Too bland?
- Add salt to the boiling water (7g per litre of water)
- Don’t season at the end; add salt before cooking the pasta
- Too slimy?
- Avoid adding oil to the water
- Don’t rinse the pasta after draining
- Too soggy?
- Watch cooking times and take the pasta out a minute or two before the time on the packet
- Taste the pasta to check if it’s firm to the bite – this is the crucial stage so if there’s a parcel delivery, ignore it as your pasta perfection takes priority
- Too clumpy?
- Stir the pasta right after adding to water and occasionally throughout cooking
Oh, and a couple of crucial bonus tips:
- When cooking a sauce for the pasta, finish heating this first then add the hot pasta to the sauce and stir together. Don’t let your pasta go cold in the strainer!
- Use the best pasta you can lay your hands on – handmade pasta really makes a difference. Make sure you explore our fantastic range