Robert “Bobby” Wiebel, director of operations for Econo-Pak, enjoys cooking and eating in his free time. Robert Wiebel of Sparta, NJ, particularly enjoys preparing spaghetti.
Spaghetti may be one of the most deceptively simple dishes to cook. It seems to require no more than placing the spaghetti in a pot of boiling water and waiting for it to be ready, but there are many moments within that process that can make or break the final product.
Even before starting the water to boil, choosing the right pot is important. A pot that is too small will cause the water to drop in temperature once the pasta is added. This will cause the pasta to then clump as the water returns to a boil.
Similarly, it's important to ensure the water is at a full boil prior to adding the pasta. Once the pasta is in the water, stirring can further help avoid sticking. Occasional stirring should continue until the pasta is done to the preferred tenderness. The cook can then drain the pot, but should not rinse the pasta, as this removes some of the flavor as well as the starch that helps sauce adhere to the noodles.
Spaghetti may be one of the most deceptively simple dishes to cook. It seems to require no more than placing the spaghetti in a pot of boiling water and waiting for it to be ready, but there are many moments within that process that can make or break the final product.
Even before starting the water to boil, choosing the right pot is important. A pot that is too small will cause the water to drop in temperature once the pasta is added. This will cause the pasta to then clump as the water returns to a boil.
Similarly, it's important to ensure the water is at a full boil prior to adding the pasta. Once the pasta is in the water, stirring can further help avoid sticking. Occasional stirring should continue until the pasta is done to the preferred tenderness. The cook can then drain the pot, but should not rinse the pasta, as this removes some of the flavor as well as the starch that helps sauce adhere to the noodles.