“We cook and eat a lot of pasta, but I bet you don’t know all there is to know about it,” Culinary Producer Nicole McLaughlin says in a new video. “I’ve got surprising ways to boil and strain your pasta, some great cooking hacks, and some fabulous recipes at the end.” From tried-and-true tricks to TikTok hacks, here are some of Nicole’s favorite pasta shortcuts.
Rachel Marek / Food Sylist: Addylen Evans
Nicole’s Best Pasta Hacks
- Twisted Noodle Hack: It’s tempting to break spaghetti noodles in half before you throw them in the pot to submerge everything at once. You actually shouldn’t do that, though: It makes twirling difficult and doesn’t allow the sauce to cling properly. Instead, simply add the noodles in a twirling motion to prevent the dreaded overhang.
- Reverse Strainer: If you’re serving your pasta in the pot you cooked it in, there’s no sense in straining it in the sink just to put it right back. But, if you have a colander that fits easily in the boiling pot, you can place the strainer on top of the pot and pour just the water down the drain.
- Spoon Spillover Stopper: You probably already know this one. Placing a wooden spoon on top of a pot of water prevents it from boiling over.
- Butter Barrier: We’ve all heard about the spoon trick, but did you know you can stop water from boiling over by rubbing some fat (either butter or oil) around the rim?
- No Strainer? No Problem: Wedge a toothpick or the thinnest part of a fork between your pot and its lid. Hold the lid down while you pour the pasta water into the sink.
- Perfect Pasta Portions: If you have a pasta ladle with a hole in the bottom, you can use it to perfectly portion your spaghetti or angel hair noodles. Cook what fits and throw the rest back in the box for later.
- Microwave Al Dente: Here’s an old college trick Nicole still uses today. Cooking your pasta in the microwave is an easy way to make dinner and keep cleanup to a minimum. Just don’t forget to salt the water!
- Reheat Leftover Pasta: Ever wondered why your leftover pasta sticks together when reheated? That’s because the sauce dried up in the fridge. Adding a tablespoon or two of water before microwaving leftovers will make your meal as good as new.
- Pasta Water Ice Cubes: Pasta water helps emulsify and thicken sauces, which is why you see it listed in so many recipes. Freezing it in an ice cube tray is a great way to always have the essential ingredient on hand.
- Scissors: You don’t need a pasta roller to make homemade pasta—just use kitchen shears to cut your dough into whatever shape you want.
Put your new pasta knowledge to the test with these fun, Nicole-approved recipes:
ALLRECIPES / ANA CADENA