9 common mistakes people make while cooking pasta

From not boiling the water properly to overcooking the pasta, there are many mistakes related to cooking the perfect pasta that we make, but never realise and then complaint that the pasta was not perfect.

According to chefs, the whole idea of calling such dishes as ‘the 2-minute dish’is also responsible to an extent, as people end up making them in a rush without realising that every ingredient has its own pace of absorbing flavours.

Below mentioned are the most common mistakes people make while cooking pasta.

Scroll to know more about the mistakes and the immediate remedy that will surely guide you to make the perfect pasta next time.

1. Using the wrong dried pasta
Due to increase in demand, the local producers use low-quality flour for making pasta and also apply shortcuts to make the end product less expensive. All of these lead to a noodle that does not maintain that al dente texture that we all love.
2. Not boiling the water properly
The whole idea of making pasta and noodles in 2 minutes is vague. According to Chef Rajdeep Kapoor, water should be at a ‘roiling boil’ point before you add pasta or noodles to it.
3. Not salting the water enough
If you are confused about the ratio of water and salt while cooking pasta then here is the solution. Add 10 grams of salt for every 1,000 grams of water. If the ratio goes wrong, it makes the pasta taste flat.
4. Using less water
Pasta needs room to swim, and that is only possible when you put enough water in the pan while boiling. So, stop thinking, pour in some more water.
5. Rinsing your pasta
This is the biggest mistake people commit while cooking pasta. One should never rinse the pasta after boiling in the water. That starch adds a smooth, velvety richness to the sauce.
6. Not using the stock
If you had been throwing the salt water after boiling the pasta, then stop doing the act now onwards. It actually acts as a medium to extract and blend the seasonings and sauce ingredients. So, start using it.
7. Wrong shape of pasta according to the sauce
You will be surprised to know it is necessary to select correct pasta, keeping the sauce in mind. Though the tomato and simple cream and butter sauce go well with all types of pastas, flatter and longer pasta shapes combine well with olive oil and cream sauces.
8. Overcooking the pasta
At times people overcook the pasta with a view that it will enhance the flavour of the final dish. Let us tell you, it’s a myth. Overcooking not only destroys the look but also the taste of the pasta.
9. Not cooking the pasta with the sauce
If you have the habit of saucing the pasta after it’s finished cooking, then stop it now onwards. The boiled pasta and sauce is meant to be cooked together so that the pores absorb the sauce and make the dish more tempting.