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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Pasta should go into boiling water. AIBU?

206 replies

MadMaryBoddington · 25/07/2018 12:17

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...

OP posts:
WizardOfToss · 26/07/2018 09:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

banivani · 26/07/2018 10:01

wizard
That is ... that ... it's just awful. Brings back many sad memories of 70s (and 80s!) food I'd rather have forgotten.

My husband once, many years ago when we were young, left pasta soaking in a bowl of cold water over the day, thinking that it'd be done then when he came home. It doesn't work. I was perplexed then and I'm perplexed now. I've never heard of trying to cook pasta from cold water. I'm no purist, I'd happily pop a casserole into a cold oven and let it heat up with the oven, that doesn't matter. Wouldn't do the same with a cake, and wouldn't cook pasta in anything but boiling water. Am going to try it and will report back with results.

DGRossetti · 26/07/2018 10:07

WizardOfToss

Did your Mum work in school dinners ?

FermatsTheorem · 26/07/2018 10:27

Ooh, my mum used to boil mince.

It was indeed disgusting.

ZanyMobster · 26/07/2018 10:29

It makes no difference. It definitely doesn't go soggy or stick together if you put it on cold water that would happen regardless if you overcook it. How bizarre that anyone cares Grin

PaulRuddislush · 26/07/2018 10:36

My mum made mince like that, it took me years to discover it can actually be quite pleasant if cooked properly.

Bluntness100 · 26/07/2018 11:24

I've seen the mince thing done as well. I think I thought it was rinsing the fat off. I'm not sure.

It's kinda weird the things people used to do, I'm sure there was good reason at the time.

LaurieMarlow · 26/07/2018 11:27

I don't think it makes a difference. It goes mushy when it's over cooked. The initial temperature of the water makes no difference to whether you overcook it or not.

I have a convection hob that boils water super quickly though, so perhaps that's a factor.

LaurieMarlow · 26/07/2018 11:28

And yes, boiled mince is disgusting.

I recall being made to boil a chicken breast in home economics 20 years ago. In the interests of 'healthy' eating.

BertieBotts · 26/07/2018 11:36

Filled pasta is supposed to float to the top of the water, let it float. It cooks just fine like that.

Bluntness100 · 26/07/2018 13:23

It goes mushy when it's over cooked

Yes, it does, but the issue with putting it in cold water is as it's in there for longer and the surface starts to break down, so gets a gloopy coating you don't get if you put it straight into rapidly boiling water.

Also the outside then matches the inside. So pasta is supposed to be cooked al dente, the outside softer than the inside, if you start in cold water that's very hard to achieve.

In addition it also washes away much of the taste.

Hence why the packet cooking instructions pretty much always say to put in a large pan of rapidly boiling water.

Ultimately though it's what you prefer, and there are no pasta police bursting your door down and charging you with making shite pasta 🤣

Whalebird · 26/07/2018 13:29

Agog at the pasta-into-cold-water fanciers. A flock of Nonnas, black skirts flapping, are on their way to beat you with their rolling pins.

Seriously. Pasta goes into boiling salted water, in a BIG pan.

Whalebird · 26/07/2018 13:32

^ disagreeing with bluntess there. Every time you put pasta in cold water an Italian has a nightmare. The nightmare is British food. See mince recipes above for further info.

Fabricwitch · 26/07/2018 13:37

I'm pretty sure that's how you're supposed to do it, but I don't have the patience!

WizardOfToss · 26/07/2018 15:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OliviaStabler · 26/07/2018 16:10

Has anyone ever seen a half decent chef on the TV put pasta into a pot of water that wasn't boiling and salted?

There's your answer.

jarhead123 · 26/07/2018 16:12

Always boiling water

FrenchJunebug · 26/07/2018 17:07

i do that too. Can't see a difference. If it's fresh pasta I would put them in boiling water.

KatieKat88 · 26/07/2018 17:26

Yep boiled mince, oxo cube for a fatty gravy and boiled potatoes - truly vile. This was in the 90s/early 00s though!!! Cooking for myself was a revelation of new foods and flavours (hadn't ever had pizza, pasta or rice at home - just many varieties of potato...) Confused

LaurieMarlow · 26/07/2018 19:25

So pasta is supposed to be cooked al dente, the outside softer than the inside, if you start in cold water that's very hard to achieve.

My experience is that achieving this has more to do with the quality of the pasta than the cooking method.

WiddlinDiddlin · 26/07/2018 20:11

Damn, forgot about gnocchi.. is there more spud than flour in gnocchi? Ew the idea of gnocchi into cold water.. blargh. Glue anyone!

Buttocks.. really?

MarshaBradyo · 26/07/2018 20:17

Gnocchi must be hot?

Waits for Evil...

bluerunningshoes · 26/07/2018 20:23

gnocchi must be fried in butter.

MarshaBradyo · 26/07/2018 20:25

Interesting

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 26/07/2018 20:31

It was an April Fool's joke by Richard Dimbleby, an absolute classic Widdlin. I thought you meant that pasta actually grew. And I've never heard that rule, but no, it doesn't apply to gnocchi.