Cooking Pasta

Pasta can be thin, thick, flat and curly, and with those different shapes, come different cooking times.  The following are tips so you know how long to cook whatever different pasta you are making…

Dried pasta and fresh pasta won’t cook the same, so I’m breaking down the charts for you…

First, Dried Pasta:

• Japanese curly noodles will need to cook for 4 to 5 minutes
• Cook Acini de pepe or Capellini for 5 to 6 minutes
• Vermicelli will need to be cooked 5 to 7 minutes
• Soba Noodles will need to be cooked for 6 to 7 minutes
• Elbow Macaroni, Mafalda, Spaghetti, Rotini, Rosamarina (Orzo) or Regular Egg Noodles will need to be cooked for 8 to 10 minutes
• Extra Wide Egg Noodles need to be cooked for 10 to 12 minutes
• Radiatore or Shells (medium and small) need to be cooked for 9 to 11 minutes
• Linguine or Penne will need to be cooked for 9 to 13 minutes
• Rotelle, Manicotti or Wagon Wheels need to be cooked for 10 to 12 minutes
• Fettuccine or Fusilli will need to be cooked for 11 to 13 minutes
• Mostaccioli should be cooked for 12 to 14 minutes
• Lasagna Noodles, Rigatoni, or Shells (Jumbo) need to be cooked for 12 to 15 minutes
• Farfalle needs to be cooked for 13 to 15 minutes
• Ziti needs to be cooked for 14 to 15 minutes

Fresh Pasta (refrigerated packaged)

• Capellini, Fettuccine, or Linguine should be cooked for 1 to 2 minutes
• Farfalle or Lasagna needs to be cooked for 2 to 3 minutes
• Ravioli needs to be cooked for 6 to 8 minutes
• Tortellini will need to be cooked for 8 to 10 minutes

Now you can enjoy whatever pasta you choose.  Cooking your pasta just right can make the meal all that it can be…