How do you keep pasta from clumping and sticking together??

1. 95

   CWanamakerposted 12 years ago

   How do you keep pasta from clumping and sticking together??

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2. 82

   Mitch Alanposted 12 years ago

   Immediately after draining your pasta, toss it with some extra virgin olive oil.  This will keep your pasta from sticking to itself until you are ready to use it in your favorite dish.  If you don't mind giving up the "pretty" presentation of the sauce on top look, you can mix the sauce directly into the drained pasta.  This too, will keep it from clumping.

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3. 71

   backporchstoriesposted 12 years ago

   There are two approaches and both work well.  Make sure your water is at a rolling boil before adding noodles.  Once you drop the noodles in the pot, continue to stir as the water returns to a boil.  This is the important part for non-stick, stir for another minute longer and the starch will release from the noodles, creating that non stick barrier.
   
   Second way is to add a teaspoon or two of olive or veggie oil to the boiling water and then stir in the pasta and cook!

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   1. 71

      backporchstoriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with Mitch...when after cooking, use olive oil or sauce.  Good call...

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4. 94

   ktrappposted 12 years ago

   After you drain the cooked pasta, run some cold water over it. This stops the pasta from continuing to cook and clumping. It works great and the pasta really isn't cold to eat, especially when you put a warm sauce on it..

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   1. 60

      shalizaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, running cold water helps. Thereafter I drizzle olive oil, then toss the pasta so the olive oil pretty much coats it. The olive oil also adds taste to the pasta.

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5. 72

   nmdondersposted 12 years ago

   I usually put just a little bit of olive oil into the water when the pasta is boiling.  You shouldn't have to stir it too often.  I've never tried putting it in afterwards.

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      DMartelonlineposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Almost what I do. I drizzle about 1/8 a tsp of any kind of oil into the water once it's boiled and drop the pasta in. Never have a problem.

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6. 57

   Angelina Ricciposted 12 years ago

   Fresh pasta should have some flour left on it, and a few tablespoons of oil in the water.  I use regular vegetable oil, you don't need olive oil for this.  For boxed, make sure you stir after the first minute, and stir again after another minute.  Once rapidly boiling you should be OK.  If you dump the noodles, and set the timer, and leave unattended you will get sticky noodles.  I like to add my spaghetti a little at a time and not all at once.   Once it has been drained, you should put the sauce on immediately.  Toss pasta with sauce and add more sauce as needed.  If you are leaving the noodles, put a little butter on them and toss around to keep from sticking.  If you want cold noodles (for something like pasta salad), just turn on the cold water and stir with your hands until it is cold throughout.  I find that there really isn't a big difference between cheap pasta and more expensive pasta when it comes to sticking.  If you want to try making pasta, check out my hub.

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7. 83

   zsobigposted 12 years ago

   When you start to boil the water for the pasta, simply pour some olive oil into the water. This will surely keep the pasta from sticking later.
   Also, when the pasta is about to get cold (when you leave it to chill) stir it with a fork so it won't clump later in the fridge either.

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8. 60

   TrevorBasileposted 12 years ago

   I pour some oil into the water and this other this I do is right after it come out you take just a little sauce and mix it with the pasta. That keeps it from clumping together. People do use cold water to stop the cooking process which helps it not stick together but It makes the pasta cool off faster. By adidng sauce it keeps it warm and keeps it from sticking

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9. 92

   Faceless39posted 12 years ago

   Put a tablespoon of vegetable oil in the water, get it to a rolling boil, put the noodles in, and make sure you stir the noodles off and on for the whole process.

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10. 58

    mio cidposted 12 years ago

    add  a little  oil to the water when you boil it.

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