Despite all your best efforts, you’ve done it again — you overcooked your pasta. Or undercooked it. Or let your attention stray from it for too long, and let the water boil over. Though pasta has a reputation for being one of the easiest dishes to make, there’s a surprisingly long list of ways you could be messing it up. If you just can’t get your pasta to cooperate, or you’re looking for ways to improve your craft, we’ve got you covered. With this handy guide in your arsenal, you’ll be whipping up perfect pasta dishes before you can say “al dente.”
Ignoring Package Instructions
This is probably the biggest mistake you can make when cooking a pasta dish. Yes, we know that you’ve made pasta before. We don’t doubt your ability.
Still, you should always do a quick glance over the package’s instructions to make sure you remember how to do it correctly.
Otherwise, you may boil it for too long, or add too much water. This is especially true if you’re a pasta novice (which there’s no shame in!).
Not Adjusting for Pasta Type
Not all pastas are created equally. Different pasta shapes will, of course, have different preparation needs, though it can be easy to forget.
Generally, each type of pasta has its own cooking time. You should refer to the box for specifics, though each type of pasta has its own rule of thumb.
Spaghetti, for example, usually takes about ten minutes to boil, while macaroni takes about seven. Avoid boiling pasta together to prevent over or undercooking.
Forgetting to Account for Pasta Thickness
Just as pasta type affects the cooking time, so does the pasta’s thickness. As you’ve probably guessed, it needs more time to absorb the water.
So, if you’re working with thicker pasta, you’ll want to boil it for longer. The exact time frame depends on the specific type of pasta, however.
Fettuccine is one such type of pasta, taking up to 13 minutes to properly boil. Pasta shells (also known as conchiglie) can take up to 15.
Overlooking the Addition of Salt to Water
It’s, unfortunately, all too easy to make bland pasta. This often results from one thing, and one thing only — forgetting to salt your water.
Though this is often regarded as the first step to perfect pasta, it’s sometimes written off as an “old wives’ tale.”
We’re here to tell you that it’s necessary. Salting your water ensures that your pasta, whether it’s spaghetti or conchiglie, will be all the more flavorful from it.
Failing to Use a Timer
We’ve all been there — you’re bustling around the kitchen while the pasta boils, preparing the sauce and whatever side dishes you have planned.
And then…the pot boils over. Or the pasta’s overcooked. Or you drained it too early, and now the pasta’s in that weird stage between soft and crunchy.
This all stems from one issue: forgetting to set your timer. When you’re boiling pasta, one minute can make or break your dish. Don’t forget it!
Not Considering the Sauce Absorption Time
This is a step that’s easy to overlook. You might be so preoccupied with making sure your pasta’s al dente that you completely forgot about sauce absorption.
This isn’t as bad as undercooking your pasta — your food will still taste fine — but you’re really missing out if you don’t take it into account.
Textured pastas retain sauce well; for smoother pastas, you can rub it with sandpaper to add texture, or finish cooking it in a pan with sauce.
Overlooking the ‘Al Dente’ Stage
Some people like their pasta harder, some like it softer, but for most of us, “al dente” (Italian for “to the tooth”) is the ideal texture.
If Goldilocks ate pasta instead if porridge, al dente would be her “just right.” It’s soft enough to eat, but with a firm center.
You should refer to the package for your specific pasta’s al dente stage. If your recommended boiling time is 9-11 minutes, boil it for 10.
Cooking Pasta Too Long for Baked Dishes
Not all pasta dishes are boiled! It’s all too possible (and too common) to make mistakes with baked pasta dishes, like lasagna, as well.
You might think that a dish that needs to be baked would require a longer cooking time on all accounts, but that’s not the case.
The baking time depends a lot on the dish, though many dishes benefit from boiling or soaking the pasta first, before baking.
Not Adjusting Time for Fresh Pasta
While fresh pasta might not seem dissimilar from the boxed kind, there are a few key differences: namely, the boiling time.
Fresh pasta takes a shorter amount of time to boil than what you might find in the supermarket. It usually takes five minutes, tops.
Still, five minutes is the absolute maximum. You should do a taste test at around two minutes, and continue to do so while it boils.
Forgetting to Stir
Most pasta recipes will tell you to stir your pasta occasionally. This can be easy to forget, but it’s super important to remember.
Forgetting to stir your pasta leads to uneven cooking, which is a disaster when you’re cooking up a large batch for multiple people.
Luckily, this is easy to remedy. Most pastas don’t require constant stirring. If you stir every couple of minutes, you should be fine.
Cooking at the Wrong Water Temperature
This is a mistake that’s all too easy to make (we should know: we’ve made it, too). The ideal temperature is entirely dependent on the pasta.
The water should be cold before you boil it. Contrary to what you might believe, it actually heats up faster than hot water.
Before you add pasta, the water should be at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius. Don’t add pasta if the water isn’t rolling.
Not Tasting Pasta Before Draining
Always, always, always taste your pasta! Honestly, this goes for pretty much anything you make, pasta or otherwise. Taste testing can only help you.
Even if you’ve followed the directions to a T, you should still taste your pasta before draining it. Once you drain your pasta, there’s no going back.
You should taste it a few times while it boils, to make sure it’s coming along nicely, and to better estimate when it will be finished.
Not Reserving Pasta Water for Sauce
Using your pasta water for sauces will make for flavorful, delicious bowls of pasta you won’t want to put down.
If your sauce is coming out too thick, pasta water might just be the solution. Reserve about a cup of it before draining.
You can even create a sauce from scratch with it. Add butter, onions, garlic, cream cheese, and other veggies for a creamy pasta sauce.
Overcooking Small or Delicate Pasta Shapes
As we explained earlier, different pasta shapes have different needs. You can’t boil bowtie pasta for the same amount of time you would spaghetti.
Small pasta shapes don’t necessarily require shorter boiling times. It all boils down to (pun intended) how thick or thin it is.
For example, you might overestimate how long you need to boil bowtie pasta for. It usually requires about 11 minutes, while spaghetti takes a minimum of eight.
Ignoring Altitude Effects on Boiling Point
This is a mistake you probably never saw coming, and we can’t blame you. Seriously, who would’ve thought that your altitude was messing with your fettuccine?
Well, apparently, it is. See, the standard boiling point of 212 degrees Fahrenheit only applies to those at sea level. It actually lowers the higher you get.
Take Denver, for example. In the Mile-High City, the boiling point is 202 degrees Fahrenheit. For every 500 feet in elevation, the boiling point lowers about a degree.
Cooking Pasta in a Pot That’s Too Small
Using a too-small pot actually causes more problems than you’d initially think. First, it’ll make the pasta stick together, which you’ve probably already guessed.
What you might not have known is its effect on the water’s temperature. If the pot isn’t the appropriate size, the temperature will go down.
So, not only will the pasta stick together, but it will also be cooked unevenly, with a soft, mushy, and overcooked consistency.
Not Adjusting for ‘Carryover Cooking’
In simple terms, “carryover cooking” is when a dish keeps cooking, even after it’s technically done. Not properly accounting for this can lead to overcooking.
When your pasta is al dente, remove it from heat before adding cold water to the pot. This ensures that your pasta remains perfectly cooked.
Since it’s impossible to freeze carryover cooking entirely, you may want to stop boiling your pasta about a minute before the suggested time.
Reheating Pasta Incorrectly
You’ve probably been throwing it in the microwave and calling it a day. While that’s not going to ruin your pasta, there’s better ways to go about it.
Luckily, the alternative ways of reheating your pasta aren’t that difficult. You can reheat it in a pan with olive oil or butter.
If your pasta is saucy, an oven may be the best option. Add a little oil beforehand to prevent it from drying out.
Not Considering the Sauce Cooking Time
At this point, you’re probably so busy with properly cooking your pasta that you forgot about what makes pasta dishes so great in the first place — sauce!
You can do everything right with your pasta, but if you don’t nail the sauce, it’s pointless. So, what’s the secret? It’s simple, really.
Prepare the sauce first. If you let it simmer while you make your pasta, everything will be well done, avoiding overcooked pasta and cold sauce.
Overlooking the Impact of Adding Oil to Water
So, you already know that you should salt your water beforehand, but did you know that you also need to add oil?
Adding a dash of olive oil to your water will not only make your pasta flavorful, but will ensure that the strands don’t clump.
Some claim that adding oil to your water is useless, but we disagree. A tablespoon can, and will, go a long way.