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December 3, 2020 by Kim Abbott

What Does Al Dente Pasta Mean?

If you are looking for a way to cook your pasta like in Italian, then you have probably heard the term Al Dente pasta in the past. Al Dente is one of the most common styles of cooking pasta and is closely associated with Italian food. If you are trying to cook more pasta Al Dente, then your pasta needs to be tender but still firm to the bite. At the very least, your pasta should not be mushy. When it comes to Italian chef, will she pasta is the bane of their existence. If you want to cook your pasta Al Dente, there are a few key points to keep in mind. 

The Test For Al Dente Pasta

There are several ways that you can test your pasta to make sure that it is cooked Al Dente. One of the most common tips that many Italian chefs prefer to involves biting into a piece of pasta. When you bite into a piece of authentic pasta, you should see a tiny white dot located in the center of the piece of pasta. While this dot actually means that the center of the pasta is slightly undercooked, it lets you know that you have cooked your pasta Al Dente. 

Al Dente Pasta Has Some Bite To It

When you are trying to cook your pasta al dente, you should start biting into a piece of pasta a minute or two before the instructions indicated on the package. When you bite into it, you should notice some slight resistance to the pasta. If the pasta is still tender, then you have reached Al Dente perfection. Note that fresh pasta is going to feel a little bit different than dried pasta. Fresh pasta usually cooks quicker than dry pasta because fresh pasta still has some water to it. Still, even if you are working with fresh pasta, al dente pasta should still have some bite to it.

Never Overcook Pasta

If you want to cook your pasta like an Italian, and the biggest thing that you have to remember is not to overcook the pasta. If you are working with fresh pasta, it is going to cook more quickly. Therefore, you are going to have less margin for error. With this in mind, keep a close watch on your pasta and shoot for Al Dente every time. 

 

Filed Under: Cooking Tips Tagged With: al dente, Cooking Tips, Pasta Cooking

February 6, 2018 by Kim Abbott

Tips for Making the Perfect Al Dente Pasta

How many times each week are you eating pasta?

If you are like other people throughout the country, this is likely a staple in your diet.

It’s easy, quick and filling. Also, you can prepare it a number of ways. However, to cook the perfect pasta, you have to know how to cook something al dente.

This means that it is still firm to the bite, but delicious and perfect for multiple meals a week. Al dente means the pasta isn’t hard, chalky, too soft, etc. After all, there isn’t anything quite as bad as overcooked pasta – it will ruin the entire meal.

Some tips to help you cook perfect al dente pasta can be found here.

The Al Dente Pasta Preparation

One of the biggest pasta “fouls” is just grabbing a pot, filling it with water, and dumping pasta in before the water even boils. Not only that but using a pot that is too small for the past you are cooking.

To make perfect al dente pasta, you need to start with a large pot so that your pasta can move freely. A general rule of thumb to follow is to use five to six quarts of water per pound of pasta you are cooking.

Boil the water. Don’t try to jump ahead. You need to make sure the water is at a hard boil, at which point you will add approximately two tablespoons of salt. Once the salt is added, add your pasta and allow the water to reach a hard boil once again.

General Tips for Cooking

When you add the pasta, you can add a lid to the pot to help it reach a boil faster; however, you should remove it as soon as it begins to boil again. This will prevent it from boiling over.

Another tip you can use is to stir the pasta constantly for the initial one to two minutes – but just the initial few minutes. This will help prevent sticking.

When the cooking process is done, you should taste your pasta. It should have an al dente bite if you cooked it properly. If the pasta is undercooked it will have a chalky and stiff center, but if it is overcooked, the noodles are going to be soggy and limp.

What You Should Never Do When Cooking Pasta

When cooking pasta, if you want to make sure it reaches that al dente cooked level, make sure to avoid doing the following things:

  • Never add oil
  • Don’t wait for the pasta to completely cool to add the sauce
  • Don’t rinse the pasta unless you are making a cold dish

Now you have the knowledge to make perfectly al dente pasta every time. You will find that once you get the hang of what to do, it is actually easy to achieve this cooked perfection each time you make pasta.

 

Filed Under: Cooking Tips Tagged With: al dente, Cooking, italian food, Pasta

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Phoenix , AZ 85016
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Credit for most photos: Kay W. Eskridge: Images By Kay

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