Pasta, a universal favorite, is not just a dish but an experience.
It’s versatile enough for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even special occasions.
Yet, despite its simplicity, cooking pasta can be tricky.
It’s all too easy to end up with pasta that’s either undercooked or unpleasantly soggy.
Most of us have been taught the traditional way of cooking pasta, likely passed down from our grandparents or parents.
The process starts with a large pot of water, to which we add a pinch of salt.
Then comes the waiting game for the water to boil before adding the pasta, which can seem to take for…ever…er!
After adding the pasta, we wait again.
Eventually, after the pasta is cooked, we drain the pot and discard all that water.
This method, while familiar, often leads to thoughts about the amount of water wasted.
Not to mention, the common issue of pasta sticking together.
Enter Harold McGee, the author of the best-selling book “Keys to Good Cooking: A Guide to Making the Best of Foods and Recipes.”
McGee introduces a revolutionary method of cooking pasta that’s a total game changer.
Many people swear by it and refuse to go back to the old way.
McGee’s method begins unconventionally.
Instead of starting with boiling water, place the pasta in an empty, cold frying pan.
Then, add about a quart and a half of cold water.
Only then do you turn on the heat.
“Because the water is cold, the pasta won’t stick to itself at the very beginning. When it’s done, you have pasta that’s perfectly cooked,” McGee explains in a video from Chowhound.
This approach is not only logical but also efficient.
Why waste time and water waiting for a large pot to boil?
Plus, adding pasta to boiling water increases the likelihood of it sticking together.
McGee’s method saves time, water, energy, and guarantees perfectly cooked pasta every time.
But that’s not all.
An added bonus of this method is the small amount of thickened liquid left over, often referred to as ‘pasta water’, which can be used to enhance your sauce.
Viewers have been loving this trick, commenting things like:
“Works like a charm every time!”
Someone else wrote:
“I just tried this right now and it works perfectly! I’ve never managed to make pasta this good before, and I love how much water and time it saved me!!”
If you’re ready to try this pasta cooking hack, here’s what you need: a frying pan (not a pot), your favorite pasta, water, and salt.
Start by placing the pasta in the frying pan, then pour in one to two quarts of cold water and add salt.
Turn on the heat and let it cook until desired tenderness.
After your pasta is ready, don’t forget to use the remaining thick pasta water for your sauce.
McGee told The Splendid Table:
“I recommend cooking a pound of pasta in a quart-and-a-half of cold water in a frying pan. It takes 15-20 minutes instead of 45 with the heat-up of the water. It works just fine.”
Give this method a try and share your perfectly cooked pasta success with fellow pasta lovers.
Check out the video below to get a closer look at this genius pasta-cooking hack!
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