Cooking Spaghetti
Beginner’s Guide to Cooking Spaghetti
Italian food consists of some of the most easily prepared meals, yet the simple task of cooking spaghetti can confound and frustrate some beginner cooks.
In order to cook it, one must understand it, so let’s take a look at the composition of spaghetti. Flour, eggs, oil and a bit of water make up the dough, which is then forced through a pasta machine to cut it into fine, long strands. These strands are then hung to dry to a brittle consistency; a state that indicates it is ready to cook.
When cooking spaghetti, it is important to use plenty of water to prevent the strands from sticking together and becoming a glutinous solid mass. The general rule of thumb for cooking spaghetti is to allow one quart of water for each serving of past, which is considered to be ¼ of a pound in dry state. Salting the water at this time flavors the water, and will in turn flavor the spaghetti as it cooks and absorbs the fluid. The water should then be brought to a vigorous boil over high heat. When the boiling water cannot be stirred down, it is time to add the measured amount of spaghetti. After adding the pasta, stir well with a slotted spoon to ensure none of the strands have adhered to others in the pot.
If cooking spaghetti from a commercially packaged product, check the directions for length of cooking time needed. If the spaghetti is freshly made, or does not have cooking directions printed on the package, allow 6-9 minutes for total cooking time. During this time, stir again once or twice, making sure the strands remain separate.
When the prescribed time for cooking spaghetti is reached, you will need to check the pasta for degree of doneness. The best texture for spaghetti is called “al dente”, or “to the tooth”. This means the spaghetti should still be slightly chewy, not crunchy and not gooey. To check the spaghetti for doneness, retrieve one or two strands from the boiling water; a spaghetti spoon with claw-like extensions around the spoon part is best for this, but lacking one, a long handled fork can be used. Many people taste the pasta, knowing how they want it to feel on their palate. It can also be broken or cut to check doneness; look inside for a white center dot which would indicate the interior is not cooked.
When done, drain the pasta using a colander over the sink. Many cooks let the cold water tap run while draining hot liquids, as the cool water redirects the steam away from the face and hands. Place the drained spaghetti on the serving dish, and top with the desired sauce and cheese.
Cooking spaghetti can be a great success even for beginners if the basic principles of making it are followed; resulting in a delicious and satisfying Italian meal.