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...

The answer on salt in water and temperature:

Overall it's now considered a bad idea to add salt as you cook because it tends to lead to us eating more of it, and getting used to everything tasting salty.

It's almost like we don't need salt

Salted boiling water

Drain then toss pack into hot pan, add a splurge of oil, pepper and more salt if desired, and mix.

THEN add your sauce or pour out & put sauce on top (really it should be the former). Doing that mid step really holds the pasta together & enhances the sauce.

Nonna says no.

Boiling water only for pasta - and I second the boil a kettle to pour into the pan method rather than wasting time and energy bringing a panful of water to the boil.

Pasta need to be put straight in the bin . It's the world's most pointless food, boiled dough ugh

Nonna says no.

Sadly my Nonna couldn't have salt. So when we visited, neither did we. It's where I learned that (a) pasta needs salt, and (b) it most certainly is not the same if you put it on at the table.

However my aunts sauces made up for it . My Nonno would pop off up to his smallholding once a week bring back fresh tomatoes which slowly disappeared over the week.

First time it was a shock for us English born kids. But the ice-cream parlour (literally) across the road made up for it.

I wonder what the collective thoughts on rice are ?

Iv cooked it both ways and both ways have tasted exactly the same to me and my family ? No big deal whatvway you cook it

When camping I do the sauce first then add dry pasta and then a bit of water. Keep adding water till cooked. It uses less water and fuel. It's the old Italian way when you were low on water.

I wonder what the collective thoughts on rice are ?
Noooo! Don't go there, please !

I wonder what the collective thoughts on rice are

You're playing with fire now...

Never cold
Just boiled onto the pasta in the pot

I do it this way because I'm lazy but it does make the pasta a bit gross.

DH does it this way and also overcooks it so it's definitely gross.

I don't really like pasta even when it's done properly so it doesn't make any difference DS doesn't seem to care.

Rice for me is my nemesis. They do boil in the bag for a reason. 🤣

As for going by instructions on the packet, is their any pasta that says put it in cold water? I think they all say add to boilIng water don't they?

rice is good in rice pudding only.

Rice for me is my nemesis. They do boil in the bag for a reason.

Once you have cracked loose rice (can just hear Kevin Bridges saying "hoose rice" ) you will never go back. Much nicer texture and taste (and much cheaper).

We prefer basmati rice for most things now since I managed to get it right.

Funnily enough that's tonights dinner ... chicken and mushrooms his'n'hers sauces with rice.

Last nights dinner was pork in honey and mustard served with spiralli (in boiling water) tossed with olive oil, black pepper and scrambled eggs.

Those saying it messes up the timings I admit I have no idea how long it takes. I just keep testing the odd bit till it tastes done. Never thought to actually time it!

Good Lord. I did not expect to come back to five pages of comments!

I love the comment about benighted Anglo Saxons, sorry I can’t remember who said that. Dh is Dutch so that will rile him nicely!

It is good to know that most people agree with me. I will get my ducks in a row, cancel the cheque and LTB sharpish.

Ahh, he's Dutch Mad, that explains it. DH has four Dutch half-siblings and every time they've cooked me pasta I've had to force it down.

I now know why.

On the whole, he’s an excellent cook (which I am not). But the pasta thing - argh. I hadn’t noticed it being a general Dutch thing. I will pay attention next time MIL is cooking pasta and see if he’s got it from her.

@mumsastudent

Gluten free pasta comes out perfect if you cook it in boiling water with a good glug of olive oil.

Stir the water as you're pouring in the pasta (think poached egg) and give it a few stirs as it's cooking to stop it sticking together.

Water must be boiling when you put in the pasta. At a roiling boil in fact. Otherwise, it's impossible to time it so that you know it's properly al dente.

An Italian colleague of mine also told me that they always use rock salt for cooking pasta in Italy, never table salt.

I think I just heard all of Italy collectively wince. Cold water indeed!!!!!

I always put it in boiling water but tbh I don’t know why because I don’t actually like pasta.

I just can’t get it down, can’t deal with the texture. Bland awful stuff.

As you were.