Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli has revealed the most common mistake people make when cooking pasta – but says there’s a simple way to avoid it for good with his clever tip
Pasta may seem like a straightforward dish to whip up, but there’s always room for improvement.
Over time, numerous chefs have pointed out the blunders we Brits often make when preparing this Italian favourite. From draining pasta water in the sink to miscalculating portion sizes, there are plenty of easy-to-make errors. Luckily, most of these mistakes have simple fixes.
The same goes for what could be the most common error of all. Speaking to the Mirror, celebrity chef Aldo Zilli highlighted overcooking pasta as a frequent offender – a mistake made by both professional and home cooks alike.
“Dry pasta is something most people tend to overcook in this country,” he noted. ” A lot of restaurants precook it then serve it overcooked.” The Italian chef further explained: “The cooking of pasta needs to be finished in the sauce. If you are making pasta, cook it two minutes under, then add it to the sauce with cooking water and finish the cooking in the sauce, so the pasta has got a chance to absorb all the flavours.”
Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn’t rinse your pasta under the tap either, especially between the aforementioned steps. “Never cool pasta down under cold water because you are washing off all the goodness,” the expert advised. He also offered a “foolproof” method for determining the right serving size.
“Calculate 80 grams of pasta per person that always works. It is foolproof,” Aldo suggested. If you’re whipping up some spaghetti, he suggests utilising the hole in your spaghetti spoon.
Contrary to popular belief, the slot isn’t just for draining water – it’s a handy tool for measuring out a perfect serving size. Just pop your dry pasta into the hole to gauge the right amount.
