Just cut 'em open
By Margaret Eby Updated August 14, 2019
Pasta is one of the first things many Americans learn how to cook. Yes, of course, there are nuances to the art of making and cooking pasta that you might not grasp in your early days. But when I was a teenager who just needed a quick, easy dinner while I was studying, I reached for the macaroni and cheeese box—or the spaghetti with jar sauce—every time.
But even if you've been cooking pasta for a long time, you might have trouble figuring out when it's done to your liking without the help of the timing on the box. Many pasta recipes call for pasta to be mostly cooked through in boiling water and then transferred to finish cooking in the sauce, a move that melds the flavors of pasta and sauce together as well as bringing along some of that sweet, sweet starchy pasta water.
So how can you tell how far along your noodles are in the cooking process? Don't throw them at the wall—that sounds messy. There's a simple trick that you can use that doesn't involve biting into a slightly raw, very hot piece of rigatoni. All you need to do is carefully fish out one of your noodles from the pasta pot and cut it in half.
When you do, you'll likely see a ring inside the pasta that's a lighter color than the rest of the noodle. That part is the uncooked pasta. The thicker a ring there is, the less cooked it is. For pasta that's al dente, there should be a thin ring of that lighter color inside. If you want your pasta a little bit less cooked than al dente, look for a thicker ring. For pasta that's cooked all the way through, there should be no ring at all.
This move works particularly well with tube pasta, like ziti or rigatoni, but you can use it reasonaby well with whatever you've got. The other day I was using some pasta I had splurged on during a trip to a fancy Italian grocery store, and realized that there were no time indicators on the box. The old cutting-in-half trick meant that I was still able to pretty easily tell when the pasta hit that sweet spot between too firm and too mushy, even without having a timer going. And no wall-sticking is involved, which is an all-around win in my book.
FAQs
For pasta that's al dente, there should be a thin ring of that lighter color inside. If you want your pasta a little bit less cooked than al dente, look for a thicker ring. For pasta that's cooked all the way through, there should be no ring at all.
How to tell if ramen noodles are done? ›
When the noodles are starting to turn slightly yellow, they are done. At this point, the ramen should be completely broken apart, and, when you put your fork in the water, a few noodles attach themselves to your fork. The ramen is ready to eat when it is flexible.
Is it true that pasta sticks to the wall is done? ›
"It's a big myth," says Senior Culinary Producer Jeanette Donnarumma. According to Jeanette, underdone, overdone and perfectly cooked pasta will all stick to the wall. (Watch Rach have a blast throwing pasta at the wall in the video above!) The best and, really, only way to tell if your pasta is done is to taste it.
How do you test pasta to see if it's done? ›
It's far better to use your own judgement and just taste a bit of that pasta. Is it soft but with a slight resistance when you bite into it? Congratulations. You have perfectly cooked, al dente pasta that's ready to be paired with your favourite pesto.
How long to cook noodles? ›
Spaghetti typically takes 8-10 minutes. Linguine is thicker and may take 10 or more minutes to cook. Fettuccine can also take 10 or more minutes. It's crucial to stir long noodles as they're cooking, to prevent the strands from all sticking together and creating a lump of pasta.
How to tell if pasta is undercooked? ›
Pasta that is soft and mushy is usually overcooked, while if it's crunchy and hard, this is a good indication that you haven't cooked it for long enough. Pasta cooked perfectly tends to be tender on the inside and a bit firm on the outside.
Can you undercook ramen? ›
The good news is that ramen — the shelf-stable kind that's packaged in a sleeve or foam cup — isn't actually raw in the first place (more on that below), so it's 100% safe to eat without the least bit of cooking.
How long should you cook ramen noodles? ›
Boil 1 ¼-cup of water, then remove the seasoning packet and dump the noodles into the water, along with any extra ingredients. Let it boil for around three minutes, and remove it from the heat. Stir in your flavoring, and it's done.
Is ramen soupy or dry? ›
Ramen is a Japanese noodle soup that is popular both in Japan and worldwide. Even though there are numerous variations, the mainstay of ramen noodles is a broth base, long thin wheat noodles, and various toppings. In the US, ramen noodles are mostly associated with the dried content of the loud colored packaging.
How do I make sure my pasta is done? ›
The perfect al dente pasta should be mostly chewy but with a little resistance and a slightly firm center. If you cut it in half, you might see that the center is less hydrated. That's a good sign that it's time to stop cooking.
You'll know when filled pastas are ready when they begin to float to the top. Similarly, if the filled pasta ruptures and the contents empty into the pasta water, you'll know you've overcooked it.
Why does pasta stick when boiling? ›
The pasta will release starch into the water as it cooks, causing a sticky situation without enough water. We recommend 3 or 4 quarts of water per pound of pasta—and a pot that can hold it all without boiling over.
How do you know when pasta is cooked perfectly? ›
The trick is to test it and stop cooking when it's perfectly 'al dente' – which translates from Italian as 'to the tooth' but simply means you should need to use your teeth to chew it. Follow our tips below on how to boil pasta and the various cooking times for achieving that perfect al dente result.
What's the spaghetti wall trick? ›
I'm sure you've heard the saying, “throw spaghetti against the wall and see what sticks.” It's a common way to describe the process of testing many different tactics at the same time in order to identify what works (sticks) and what doesn't work (falls to the floor).
What is the only reliable way to test pasta? ›
Expert-Verified Answer
The most accurate way to test if pasta is done is by tasting it. Biting into a piece of pasta allows you to feel the texture to determine if it has reached the desirable 'al dente' stage, which indicates perfect doneness.
Do noodles grow when cooked? ›
Your pasta will expand while cooking. Start with a big pot and fill it with enough water for your noodles to have ample cooking space. If you use a small pot, adding the pasta will have a greater impact on the water temperature and increase the time it takes to bring back to a boil.
Are instant noodles fully cooked? ›
Unlike regular pasta which is still raw, Instant soup noodles are fully cooked. The reason they are hard and brittle is because they are dehydrated, and they can be rehydrated simply by soaking them in warm water.
How do you know when water is boiling for noodles? ›
Once it reaches a constant yet gentle bubble, you'll be ready to add your noodles. Medium-high is preferable to a higher heat setting when preparing noodles, as intense temperatures are more likely to quickly overcook the starches and cause them to become gluey.
When noodles are hard are they over cooked? ›
Literally translated as 'to the tooth', al dente is an Italian term used to describe the ideal consistency of pasta (and rice) when cooked. Al dente pasta is firm when bitten without being hard or chalky. Italians call pasta that has been cooked until soft 'stracotto' (overcooked).
