How to cook Pasta for Salads

Knowing HOW TO COOK PASTA FOR SALADS is important for making pasta salads correctly. Follow these simple steps for Perfect Pasta Salads!

• Use a large pot. It does not have to be an expensive stainless steel pot; actually water will come to a boil more rapidly in a thinner, less expensive pot. Use an 8-quart pot and 4 quarts of water for 1 pound of pasta.

• Bring the water to a rolling boil. Add the salt and stir to dissolve. Salt adds flavor and helps ensure firmness. See the table below for ptoportions. Add the pasta all at once, raise the heat, and stir briefly with a wooden spoon. If the boil subsides too much, cover the pot with a lid for a very short time until the water returns to the boil. Remove the lid to continue cooking.

• Cook the pasta for the time recommended on the box. For salad this should be "al dente".

  If the pasta you purchase does not have instructions for "al dente" on the package, cook it for the minimum time suggested. Taste the pasta a minute before it is due to be done to guard against overcooks.

  When it is "al dente", drain the pasta into a colander and rinse briefly under cold running water. You do not need to rinse for hot pasta dishes, as the starch helps the sauce cling to the pasta.

• When cooking Asian noodles, after placing the noodles in the boiling water, stir them occasionally with a long-pronged fork in the first few minutes of cooking, as they tend to clump together.

• If cooking the pasta ahead of time, drizzle a little oil over the drained pasta, toss to coat, cover, and refrigerate until ready to proceed with the recipe.

• Many pasta salads benefit from a resting time, as the pasta absorbs the dressing, resulting in a fuller flavor, if left too long however, they will tend to dry out.
  
  

  HOW TO COOK PASTA FOR SALADS PROPORTION TABLE

  Pasta	Water	Salt
  6 ounces	3 quarts	1 ½ teaspoons
  8 to 12 ounces	4 quarts	2 teaspoons
  1 pound	5 quarts	1 tablespoon

  
  
  

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