This rule is a good mnemonic to avoid messing up the cooking of pasta.
Cooking pasta is a fundamental step for any lover of “pasta al dente”. The perfect pasta should be neither overcooked nor too hard, but should resist slightly to the bite while being perfectly cooked inside. If you mess up cooking your pasta, know that no sauce or accompaniment can save it! If most Italians cook al dente pasta by feeling, we strongly advise you to memorize this technique called “the 3 number rule”.
“1, 10, 100”: here is the 3-digit rule for perfect pasta cooking for one person! This is the most ingenious trick found for remembering the right quantities needed to cook your pasta al dente: 1 for a liter of water, 10 for ten grams of salt and 100 for one hundred grams of pasta. The rule of “10, 100, 1,000” is also completely valid, i.e. 10 per ten grams of salt, 100 per hundred grams of pasta and 1,000 per thousand grams of water (i.e. 1 liter). However, we advise you to memorize only one of the two, otherwise it will turn your brain upside down!
Before you start cooking your “al dente” pasta, follow the cooking time indicated on the package. Spaghetti, tagliatelle, farfalle… Each pasta has its cooking time depending on its size and thickness! Use a saucepan large enough not to stick the pasta together and heat the water over high heat. Wait for the water to boil before adding the salt and pasta. Once you have immersed the pasta, do not cover the pan as this will prevent the water from evaporating and result in sticky pasta… Stir from time to time to prevent them from sticking together. Just before the end of cooking, don’t hesitate to taste them. When your pasta is cooked, keep two tablespoons of the cooking water and drain it through a colander. Immediately mix them with the sauce that accompanies them in a pan to fully absorb the flavors. Add the cooking water, which is rich in starch, to seal the pasta sauce, giving it a smooth, even texture.
Cooking pasta al dente allows for a more flavorful and filling culinary experience. But that’s not allt: al dente pasta is also good for your health, with a glycemic index of 50 compared to 65 for overcooked pasta. This mnemonic rule and these basic tips will guarantee you an optimal cooking experience!