How to Fix an Overcooked Pasta?

Pasta lovers are specific about the texture of their cooked, but sometimes multitasking in the kitchen leads to overcooking. Even experienced chefs must have gone through this mess of overcooking their pasta at least once in their life. Whether you have bought fusilli or penne pasta in India, overcooked pasta creates a not-so-enjoyable and unpleasant experience. If you are here, you must have been in the same ship as well. While you might consider dustbin as the ideal place to hide your little accident, but…Wait…! You don’t have to throw your overcooked pasta as we have got easy hacks for you. Here are some of the quick fixes which will improve the texture of your not-so-appealing and soggy pasta!

The Easiest Way:

The moment you realize that you have put your pasta on the flame longer than you should have, place large ice cubes in the pasta pan to stop the cooking process immediately. You can also run it under cold water if you don’t have ice handy. Drain them afterward and dry them a bit to sustain the starch.

The Sautéing Process:

Sautéing the gooey pasta helps in bringing back the much desired firm texture. Rub a little bit of olive oil or butter in a pan and sauté your over cooked pasta to make it firm. Sautéing will render that crispy texture at the edges, however, don’t cook it for too long and burn it.

The Masking Method:

If you have overcooked it to the extent that sautéing and ice are of no help, the best you can do is mask the appearance. Add in a lot of crunchy veggies to mask the unappealing texture of the pasta.

You can also add a rich, creamy sauce and mix the pasta well so that it takes away the slimy taste.

Tips from the Book of Experts:

• You can also avoid mushy pasta by following the directions on the package. For instance, if you have bought pasta like wheat pasta, it takes more time to cook; whereas, white pasta takes lesser time but these are healthy pasta to buy for your kids and family definitely. Follow the directions behind the packet for every variety of pasta you use. Just test the pasta two minutes before the cooking time indicated on the pack.
• Use a timer while cooking pasta to avoid the problem in the first place.

It is true that pasta should be cooked al-dente so that it remains firm enough to bite and soft enough to absorb the sauces. However, in cases of overcooking accidents, you can use these hack to act like a pro and save the dish from failing. Happy Cooking!