How to Quickly Cook Pasta in a Frying Pan - CHOW Tip

Harold McGee, author of Keys to Good Cooking: A Guide to Making the Best of Foods and Recipes, shares a handy way to speed your pasta dinner along. Plus it's ecofriendly!

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TRANSCRIPT
Most traditional recipes for making pasta tell you to start out with lots and lots of water and heat it up to the boil before you add the pasta. Turns out that you don't need to do that. You can save a lot of time, a lot of water, a lot of energy by starting out with cold water and a frying pan. Put the pasta in the frying pan. Pour a quart and a half or so of water on top of the pasta. Turn on the heat and, because the pasta is cold, the pasta won't stick to itself at the very beginning. When it's done you have pasta that's perfectly cooked and you have a thickened liquid that you can use to make all kinds of sauces.

[LaxLovesYou]

i'm a college student and all i have is a frying pan so this helps a lot!!!

[jong]

I used to cook pasta like this all the time as a bachelor. Looks, tastes, and has the same mouth feel as traditional methods. The traditional method is used to make 5 lbs of pasta for a massive family dinner... but seriously try this and see for yourself. You have nothing to lose by trying it once.

[liveandletdi]

Works like a charm every time! I did meet some resistance from onlookers, who said I needed to boil the pasta in a deep pot of water. When I asked why, they responded, "Because we've always done it that way." When the meal came to the table, and skeptics sampled the pasta, they were all converts. Suddenly, everyone wanted to know how to cook pasta in a fry pan.

[christinahartnett]

I use this method all the time now. Once the water in the pan comes to a boil, I set the timer on my stove for about 7-8 minutes. While it's cooking, I don't leave the pasta unattended. Using tongs, I gently move the pasta around the pan until it's el dente. After 7 minutes, I taste the pasta every minute or so to ensure it's cooked to my liking. I've never overcooked the pasta using this method, the texture/flavor turned out the same.

[Amyesparami]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned the fact that you don't waste 5 water liters and more stove energy this way. Totally worth it!

[TeenDream]

i live with my grandfather currently, but my grandmother recently passed away and our neighbor stole her rather nice quality pots and pans. we were left with an old cast iron skillet-nothing wrong with that but it made cooking a heck of a lot more difficult! glad to see this will work!

[michaeldudley]

I cooked my spaghetti this way tonight. It worked really well. It saved alot of time. It tasted the same. I plan to cook it this way next time.

[bballgirlsl]

i just tried this right now and it works perfectly! ive never managed to make pasta this good before, and i love how much water and time it saved me!!

[sigklsksk]

I tried this and the pasta came out better than I thought. It was nicely cooked and made very fast and simply!

[HeartofAmerica]

Quickest method to cook pasta I ever seen. Saves really alot of water and energy. Thanks for the tip.

[NotCommanderShepard]

I have two Italian friends who once argued for 20 minutes if there should be garlic in a Bolognese sauce. They would stab you for this.

[PANTOPLATE]

pasta la vista, yummy and delicious.
Loved the video.

[shouldsleep]

I'm so ashamed! I tried this and it worked perfectly and in about half the time. please don't take away my Italian card

[sycx]

in italy everything is a crime so as an american i will try this. question is how long to boil it in the pan?

[dafmer]

I don't know about pot vs pan but when younger I did add pasta into a pot of cold water and boiled till done. I can attest that pasta does not come out the same when heated with the water so I have to think this would be off.

I think cooking is very personal though and as such should be experimented with to find what you like best, at least till you have to cook for someone else especially if your trying to impress lol

[Ace-]

only have an electric skillet and a wooden spoon for cooking in my kitchen right now, and this was a life saver bless ♡

[OOOoooMIKEoooOOO]

Every time you cook pasta like this an italian dies

[katiedid]

Comments are great.
Laughing as I read.
Thank you and God bless all gourmands.
And hello from Oregon.

[schnitzelcharly]

I'm so reporting this video to the Italian Pasta Police.

[dw]

TYSM for posting this! It works perfectly & is now the only way we make our pasta. Just made it again tonight with organic baby broccoli in the same pan. Butter, salt & pepper when it was done cooking & it was absolutely delicious!