Need a tip for my pasta bake, anyone?

[gchali]

Making a pasta bake for tea, the past couple of times I've done it though the pasta has gone really dry and chewy. I need to perfect it, so how long shall I precook my pasta for?

Also, how long do I cook it for in the oven and do I leave it covered or uncovered?

Thanks

I cook the pasta as I would normally, assemble with the sauce etc, then only have it in the oven for 10 mins or so (uncovered) to heat through and melt the cheese on top. If there is meat involved I obviously cook that beforehand.

@MargotLovedTom1 Ah, so you cook the pasta fully beforehand? I was doing this and thought that was what was making it dry/chewy. I'll perhaps just cook for less time in the oven and see how it turns out

It sounds like you need more sauce.

Yeah I'm same as PP, so cook it like I'm going to eat it now, pop it all into dish. Then either 10 minutes to melt the cheese or if I made it ahead, 20 minutes till cheese bubbling, always uncovered.

Fully cook pasta
Lots of sauce
Only under grill for 5-10 mins to.melt cheese

I haven't tried it, but I have read a tip to cool the cooked pasta immediately under cold running water, before mixing with the sauce.

I put dry pasta in a dish, cover it with the sauce, then fill up the jar with water and pour on, I normally put too much pasta in so either top up with more water/take some out.
I put it on for 25 mins uncovered, then add cheese and put in for another 10-15 mins

I cook the pasta about 80% first, then add sauce and cheese, in the oven for 20 mins or so. If I cook it 100% I feel the pasta comes out too mushy.

I slightly undercook the pasta (e.g. 9 mins instead of 10), make the ragu/sauce a little thinner than if I wasn't baking it, top with cheese & 10-15 minutes in the oven is about right.

I cook pasta normally - use something big like tortillioni. Possibly a minute under.
Sauce is wet and plentiful.
Tuck mozzarella into in and Parmesan on top.
Into pre heated 175 c oven for around 15 mins (top pasta gets bit crispy). Uncovered.
All relies on wet sauce.

I never cook the pasta. It's a fast and easy dish for me. Pasta in, sauce and veg on top water to almost cover what's there. Add the cheese (and breadcrumbs) 20mins before it's ready. Yum.