The Hands-Free Way You Should Be Cooking Your Pasta
Cooking pasta can often feel like a simple task, but achieving perfectly cooked pasta every time is all about mastering the technique. The hands-free method of cooking pasta involves setting things up so that you can leave the pot and do other tasks while your pasta cooks to perfection.
Start by bringing a large pot of water to a boil, making sure there's enough water to give the pasta room to move freely. For every 100 grams of pasta, you should use about one liter of water.
Add a generous amount of salt—about one tablespoon per liter of water—before adding your pasta. Salt enhances the flavor of the pasta, ensuring it tastes better once it's cooked. Once the water is boiling rapidly, add your pasta and give it a quick stir to prevent it from sticking together.
Now, here’s where the hands-free magic happens: reduce the heat to a gentle simmer instead of keeping the water at a full, rolling boil. This simmering method ensures your pasta cooks more evenly and prevents it from boiling over, which can be a common issue with higher heat.
Cover the pot with a lid but leave a slight gap to allow steam to escape, which helps regulate the temperature. The lid will keep the heat consistent without making the water bubble too much.
Set a timer for the cooking time suggested on the pasta package or adjust based on your preference for firmness. During the cooking time, resist the temptation to stir too often—this is crucial for preventing the pasta from becoming mushy.
The simmering heat does the work for you, and with the right timing, you’ll have pasta that's perfectly cooked, al dente, and ready to be paired with your favorite sauce. Once your timer goes off, drain the pasta but be sure to save a little pasta water—about half a cup—before you pour it out.
This water is full of starch, which can help thicken and bind your sauce to the pasta. The best part of this hands-free cooking method is the convenience it offers. You can use your time wisely by prepping your sauce, chopping ingredients for a salad, or catching up on other tasks while your pasta is cooking.