this post was submitted on 22 Sep 2024
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[–] OminousOrange@lemmy.ca 28 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) (1 children)

It's not salting your water, nor the water volume to pasta ratio, nor if the water is boiling or not, nor oil in the water, but stirring early in the cooking process that will prevent sticking.

From the great Kenji Lopez-Alt:

Pasta is made up of flour, water, and sometimes eggs. Essentially, it's composed of starch and protein, and not much else. Now starch molecules come aggregated into large granules that resemble little water balloons. As they get heated in a moist environment, they absorb more and more water until they finally burst, releasing the starch molecules into the water. That's why pasta always seems to stick together at the beginning of cooking—it's the starch molecules coming out and acting as a sort of glue, binding the pieces to each other, and to the pot.

...

The problem is that first stage of cooking—the one in which starch molecules first burst and release their starch. With such a high concentration of starch right on the surface of the pasta, sticking is inevitable. However, once the starch gets rinsed away in the water, the problem is completely gone.

So the key is to stir the pasta a few times during the critical first minute or two. After that, whether the pasta is swimming in a hot tub of water or just barely covered as it is here, absolutely no sticking occurs. I was able to clean this pot with a simple rinse.

[–] flambonkscious@sh.itjust.works 2 points 54 minutes ago (1 children)
[–] OminousOrange@lemmy.ca 1 points 5 minutes ago

Yep, I really like how he applies the scientific method to cooking. Some of my favourites are how he's found the perfect way to boil an egg, cook steaks and roasts (dry brine, reverse sear), and make chocolate chip cookies (he made over 1500 cookies testing how changing each variable changed the final cookie).

[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 8 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

I've never once had pasta sticking together in the pot, regardless of what I do.

[–] Barsukis@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 hours ago
[–] FatTony@lemmy.world 41 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago) (7 children)

Me who never stirs and never gets sticky pasta...

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[–] Idea@lemmy.dbzer0.com 29 points 10 hours ago (1 children)
[–] Track_Shovel 7 points 6 hours ago
[–] OpenPassageways@lemmy.zip 16 points 9 hours ago (6 children)
[–] OhmsLawn@lemmy.world 2 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

Lidia taught me that

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[–] AI_toothbrush@lemmy.zip 27 points 10 hours ago (8 children)

I have actually never seen this before. Other comments are saying its because you dont salt your water and i do so probably thats why. It also makes the taste better so overall recommended.

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago (1 children)
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[–] Fleur_@lemm.ee 1 points 4 hours ago

Just like me and my bros

[–] yggdar@lemmy.world 57 points 12 hours ago (20 children)

Do you cook your pasta in a large pot, with plenty of boiling water, and a good amount of salt? Usually I just stir once just after putting the pasta in, and I never have noodles sticking together.

[–] HairyHarry@lemmy.world 11 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

It depends on the pasta (form, freshness, self-made... etc). Some has to be stirred 3-4 times others just once, in my experience.

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