Pasta is the most popular ingredient in old wives stories. There are many legends about pasta, which is one of the most beloved dishes in Italian and international cuisine. These legends are mostly about cooking techniques. To prevent pasta “sticking together”, olive oils should be added to the pasta’s cooking water. What kind of oil should you use? What is the recommended amount? Is it better to add it when the water boils or is it cold? These are not important questions and do not require an answer. Do you know why? This is an old wives tale that is completely unjustified.

It doesn’t make sense to add olive oil while you cook pasta

This is due to the fact that oil is slippery and prevents individual pasta pieces from sticking together. However, this theory ignores an important lesson in chemistry that we all have learned at some point or another: oil & water don’t mix. Although, it must also be noted that an Australian chemist discovered a more complicated way to do it. This is due to the fact that oil molecules, which aren’t electrically charged, are non-polar. Practically speaking, oil will “escape” wherever there is water. Can you picture a place that has more water than a pot for making pasta? Think about what happens when oil is added to a dish. The oil tries to “escape”, in fact, by rising to the surface and creating circles. However, the pasta is still surrounded by water molecules, which are then thrown away with the oil when we strain it.

How to prevent pasta sticking in the oven

Is there a way to prevent pasta sticking after we have established that adding olive oils in pasta water is an urban legend? You should pay close attention to the cooking times. If you like your pasta softened on the outside but still firm inside, the cooking times on the packet will suit you. We should allow the pasta to cook for at least 2 minutes more. The pasta will stick together if it is cooked for too long. This is because the starch granules in pasta that are rich in amylose break down and release large amounts of this sticky substance.

Cooking pasta risotto style

If you’re patient enough, you can cook your pasta as a risotto. Place the pasta in a large skillet. Heat a little water in a saucepan. Add more water as the pasta absorbs it. Slowly add a spoonful of water at a time. Once the pasta has been cooked to your liking, add a few spoonful’s of a rich, liquid sauce. You can see the difference? After softening the pasta with a little water, we add the sauce. The pasta has nearly disappeared by this point. This ensures that the pasta doesn’t stick to the sauce, but it adheres to the pasta in ways that are impossible with the traditional method of cooking. This method is not for everyone. To avoid compromising the flavor, I have a tip for you.

Here are some more tips to make the best pasta

Even though dried pasta isn’t the most popular choice for foodies, you can still make risotto using the above-mentioned method. Fresh pasta is still the best option for true connoisseurs. For more information on fresh pasta, read this article. Or jump in and try different homemade ravioli and the hand-rolled strozzapreti pasta If you don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen making your own pastas there are still some things you can do to make it great. To make sure the pasta is fully submerged in water, heat a large saucepan. While cooking, season the water. Bring the pasta to a boil. This keeps the pasta in motion and helps to avoid a sticky situation. After draining the pasta, add the olive oil to the pot. This will ensure that the oil doesn’t stick to the pasta.