How To Cook Pasta Al Dente

Expand the description and view the text of the steps for this how-to video.

Check out Howcast for other do-it-yourself videos from lorishe09 and more videos in the Italian Cooking category.

You can contribute too! Create your own DIY guide at http://www.howcast.com/videos/new or produce your own Howcast spots with the Howcast Filmmakers Program at http://www.howcast.com/filmmakers/apply.

It's an evening of wining and dining and you want your meal to come out perfect. Whether a side dish or main course, please your crowd with pasta al dente.

To complete this How-To you will need:

An 8-quart pot
5 qts. water
2 tbsp. salt
1 lb. pasta
Tongs
Timer
Colander

Step 1: Fill pot with water

Fill a large pot with water -- five quarts for every pound of noodles.

Step 2: Add salt and boil

Add a tablespoon or two of salt per every five quarts -- depending on what your personal diet allows -- and bring the water to a boil.

Step 3: Put pasta in water

Put the pasta in the boiling water and twirl with the tongs a few times in the first few minutes of cooking.

Tip: Twirling the pasta with tongs separates the noodles and eliminates the need for oil in the water.

Step 4: Do a taste test after five minutes

Refer to package instructions for how long to cook -- it depends on the amount of pasta -- but after about five minutes, do a taste test. If you bite into the noodle and see a white starchy line, it needs another few minutes.

Step 5: Try second taste test

Try a second taste test about two minutes later. The noodles should be firm on the outside and soft on the inside.

Step 6: Drain pasta

Use a colander to drain the pasta. Transfer to a bowl, toss with sauce, and bon appétit.

Thanks for watching How To Cook Pasta Al Dente! If you enjoyed this video subscribe to the Howcast YouTube channel! http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=howcast

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• FoodDrink
• cooking
• making
• boiling
• pasta
• al
• dente
• noodles
• perfect
• homemade
• home
• italian

[ald0sco]

You'd be surprised how many people really aren't capable of doing this.

[OS253]

I love noodles! Asian or Italian noodles. It's all great.

[TheDarwiniser]

i struggle with the idea that anyone simply could not understand the concept of how much heat for how long equals a softer pasta.

its not trying to get quantities or balance flavour or whatever.

its just figuring out how long to leave it in bubbling water before you take it out.

leave it longer, its cooked softer.

look at what the packet says.

then cook it for two minutes less.

REALLY !

[5904454]

Thanks!

[Tocowbell]

I hate ardent pasta tender please

[ahmadtajuddin100]

at step 5,she hit the camera

[Lyricistmc]

eww, salt

[UploaderA]

@LibBasher :(

[bunnnyluv2]

noodles

n' me?

we're best friends! :)

[impeatus]

Thing is when you leave the pasta in the strainer,it still cooks so leave your pasta a little bit to furm,and for example you are making pasta souce in a pot-pan place pasta inside to finish coking.Now you have a perfect pasta al dente with the flavor of your souce :)

[igozuvi]

@dpalm789 ur blind

[dpalm789]

@igozuvi u are an idiot its at an angle where you can barely see the noodle, im the fool for believing you