| I'm amazed at how often I get e-mail from
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| | of the prime causes for pasta sticking
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| a disgruntled home cook, lamenting the
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| | together is that the water had not yet
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| fact that, once again, a dish of pasta
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| | come to a full boil. When you add pasta
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| has turned into a culinary disaster. I
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| | to water that has not yet reached the
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| hear stories of overcooked, undercooked,
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| | boiling point, it releases natural
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| tasteless pasta that may also be stuck
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| | starches, which act like glue. Since the
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| together, or otherwise inedible. In fact,
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| | pasta is simply sitting in the water at
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| I recently had the experience where I was
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| | the time, the strands stick together.6.
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| shopping with a friend and I suggested
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| | Bring the water back to the boil as
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| that she buy some pasta. Her response was
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| | quickly as possible after adding the
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| that it was too unpredictable to cook.It
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| | pasta. In the case of pasta strands, like
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| needn't be that way. First of all, 90% of
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| | spaghetti or linguine, stir the pasta
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| cooking is being there. That is, letting
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| | until it has wilted and become submerged
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| the telephone ring through to voice-mail;
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| | in the cooking water, then cover the pot
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| perhaps leaving guests in the living room
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| | until the water returns to the boil. When
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| sipping their Chardonnay and simply
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| | the water has boiled, though, uncover the
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| keeping your focus on the task at hand.
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| | pot, and finish cooking uncovered.7. Stir
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| And by being there-that is, tending the
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| | the pasta two or three times throughout
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| pasta-you'll be able to do the only test
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| | the cooking process. Pasta cooks in eight
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| available to judge its doneness: to
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| | to ten minutes. The brief time you spend
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| taste.Those two tips alone will improve
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| | attending to it away from family or
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| your pasta-cooking skills, but I offer
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| | guests will reap huge rewards at the
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| here, ten little steps that, taken
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| | dinner table.8. Never add olive oil to
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| together, will guarantee a perfect dish
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| | the pasta cooking water. The olive oil
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| of pasta every time. Follow these steps,
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| | coats the pasta, and prevents sauce from
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| and you'll prepare pasta that will
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| | adhering to it when you've put the entire
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| consistently impress your family, your
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| | dish together.9. Cook the pasta to the
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| friends, and your harshest critic; you.1.
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| | 'al dente' state. The only way to judge
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| All pasta is not created equal. Choose a
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| | this is by tasting. Manufacturer's
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| brand with a solid reputation in the
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| | cooking times are mere guidelines. Begin
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| marketplace. De Cecco and Barilla are two
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| | tasting the pasta about two minutes
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| fine brands readily available in
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| | before the manufacturer says it should be
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| supermarkets.2. Use a pot that's large
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| | done. Also, there will be a small amount
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| enough to accommodate the pasta without
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| | of carryover cooking between the time you
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| crowding. For one pound of pasta, an
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| | remove the pasta from the stove, drain in
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| eight-quart pot is good; a ten-quart pot
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| | the sink, and combine with the sauce.10.
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| is better. Pasta needs room to move
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| | Never rinse pasta. When you rinse pasta,
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| freely as it cooks. At a minimum, use
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| | you're washing away most of the starches
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| nothing smaller than a six-quart pot.3.
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| | and nutrients that you were seeking to
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| Use plenty of water. For one pound of
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| | enjoy in the first place.So be there. Be
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| pasta, you should use at least six quarts
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| | attentive. Taste, and learn when pasta
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| of water.4. Add salt to the water. About
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| | has cooked to the consistency that you
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| 1 Tbs. per gallon. Salt adds flavor to
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| | like. Follow these ten little steps, and
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| the pasta that helps to create a
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| | you'll develop a reputation as a miracle
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| well-seasoned dish. Often, a perfectly
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| | worker with pasta. And with the myriad of
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| seasoned sauce will still taste like it
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| | sauces in the Italian and
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| needs "something" because the pasta is
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| | Italian-American cuisines, you will have
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| unseasoned.5. Bring the water to a full,
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| | expanded your cooking repertoire beyond
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| rolling boil before adding the pasta. One
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| | your wildest dreams.
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