How to Cook Fresh Pasta

Isabella Cannon

| 1 min read

Most fresh pasta is made from flour and eggs, and cooked while still soft. Dried pasta that you can find packaged at the grocery store is normally made from flour and water that’s then dried until stiff. Fresh and dried pasta are cooked in similar ways, but at different lengths of time. While fresh pasta takes a little longer to prepare, its cooking time is much faster compared to dried pasta.

Total Time:

25 minutes

Prep Time:

20 minutes

Cooking Difficulty:

Easy

Serving Amount
Ingredients

  • 1 cup fresh pasta

  • 2 cups water

  • salt, if desired

Instructions
  • Step 1

    Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Use a 2:1 ratio of cups to water to cups of pasta. Since fresh pasta cooks shorter than dry pasta, a higher level of salt is suggested for cooking fresh pasta. Add salt according to preference and heath needs.

  • Step 2

    After the water comes to a boil, gently add the pasta in. Stir in the beginning and continuously to avoid clumping or sticking because it is more likely with fresh pasta.

  • Step 3

    Boil pasta for 2 to 5 minutes until it reaches your desired consistency. A good indicator that pasta is almost done is when the noodles begin floating to the top of the pot. It should be tender but not mushy.

  • Step 4

    After the pasta is cooked, turn off the heat and drain the water from the pasta using a strainer. Fresh pasta is softer and more delicate than dried pasta when cooked so be careful when straining and handling the cooked pasta. Pair with your favorite sauce or seasonings and enjoy.

How to Store Cooked Pasta

Cooked pasta should not sit out for longer than two hours. Once pasta is cooled, store in a container with a tight-fitting lid and a little bit of oil or melted butter. Toss well to make sure the pasta is not sticking together and is lightly coated. Cooked pasta should last three to five days and stored in the refrigerator. Frozen pasta can last up to two to three months.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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