Pasta should go into boiling water. AIBU?

[MadMaryBoddington]

Dh cooks pasta by putting it into a pan of cold water then putting it onto the hob. HIBU isn’t he?

I am aware that I have no moral high ground and that if I want it doing a certain way, I should just do it myself. But he’s still wrong, isn’t he?

I put it to you, MN jury...

Soggy pasta?? LT pasta boiling buffoon B!

My dad does the same and my sister. No idea why. But I’m sure I read something recently which said it doesn’t matter. I refused to believe it!

I am going against the grain here. I put it in the pan, and cover with 1.5 to 2 inches inch of cold water. Then I bring to boil over high heat (approximately 8 minutes). Once the water has come to a boil, add a bit of salt (if desired) and set a timer for 5 minutes.

I would never stick it in already-boiling water.

Mine has never been 'soggy' and is always perfect.

Ltb.

Dear god this is the most disturbing thing I have read on Mumsnet. If you put it in cold water the starch in the pasta goes gloopy and slimy.

Ground for separation.
However, it is the perfect way to cook rice! Maybe he should just cook the rice.

It's objectively not the best way to cook pasta.

As evidenced by your DH and other people in this thread though, many people don't really care about how good their food is and will eat any old crap, so for them it doesn't really matter.

My DH chops veg for stir-fry and puts it all in cold pan with oil and leaves it till he's ready to cook it. I try not to look

How on earth would you cook long pasta like spagetti in cold water? When cooking it in boiling water, you stick one end of the bundle in, wait for the part that is already in the pot to soften up (this happens quickly as the water is boiling) and then fold the rest of it in. If cooking in cold water, the end that's in the water will take forever to soften up. Or perhaps you have a massive pan.

Always put on a rolling boil otherwise it is horrible

I'm Italian, if I saw someone put pasta into cold water and then boil the pan I would weep. Pasta needs to go into a hard boiling pan of salted water and have plenty of room to move.

I have seen on telly once people cooking pasta by frying in (from dry) in oil.

Do you still eat it?

If yes, then just leave him to cook meals in his own wrong way!

My partner puts pasta into cold water, I put it into boiling water and then on the hob. Never thought about it making much difference, but come to think of it my pasta is always better

Hi @Bluntness100 which restaurant was it? Im from the midlands, i could do with a great Italian recommendation!

No I put it in cold water too! It saves time. While you are waiting for it to boil it could actually be cooking from the start when it’s cold
Nah, save even more time by boiling the water in the kettle, then add to pan with pasta :-) (i reckon kettle boils it more energy efficiently too)

ALWAYS in boiling water, and always boil the water in the kettle not in the pan.

Boil the water in kettle, pour into pan, make sure it is at a rolling boil, add pasta. Personally I don’t bother with salt.

Why does nobody look at the instructions.....I’ve checked the various pastas I have here (spaghetti, linguine, tagliatelle, fusilli and farfalle) and they all say to add to BOILING WATER.

I hate al dente pasta. I know its how it "should" be cooked but to me pasta should be soft! But I agree, the water should be boiling before it goes in.

salt is to give flavor and make it boil faster
www.reference.com/science/salt-make-water-boil-faster-abec508cff423e26

only add oil if you are not going to use a sauce you want to stick to pasta.
taught to cook by sicilian step gm

pasta goes in boiling water, but yeuch to those saying salty water

God, I HATE that! DP does it. Makes me twitch.

ALWAYS get the water to a rolling boil first. I do this by boiling it in the kettle.

I am a salt heretic though and cook my pasta in plain water.

Cooking pasta in cold water means that it will become starchy, sticky and water-logged. Some people obviously are okay with that, and enjoy their pasta that way.

I would only ever cook it on a rolling boil, in a very big pan.

That is singularly disgusting. LTB.

I work in an office of Italians. I just read this post out loud to the room.

Everyone gasp audibly and one person actually shrieked.

I think that's probably all the answer your 'D'H requires. and he should be very glad this room full of now angry Italians aren't on MN