Why does pasta cook better when a pinch of salt is added to it as it is boiling?

lanfranco

It doesn't. Adding salt to water doesn't make the pasta cook faster or better, and most people do it for reasons of flavor. As the pasta swells, it will absorb some of the salt. Here's an interesting site on the subject: http://www.wwnorton.com/catalog/spring02/001183excerpt.htm Jun 05 06, 6:22 PM

peasypod

I second that notion, although it tastes better, it doesn't cook any better. If you want 'better' pasta, then add a few drops of virgin olive oil to the water. This prevents the pasta from sticking whilst boiling and also provides a film to help the sauce 'cling'. If we are talking flavour of boiled vegetables and the science of NaCl and the effects of osmosis, then that is a whole different kettle of fish. If you don't salt the water then, you may as well dump the veggies and drink the residue water... Jun 05 06, 7:23 PM

daddy1161992

I was flipping channels a couple days ago, and a cooking show said adding oil does not keep pasta from sticking. Adding oil does not help sauce cling, not rinsing it does. In my own cooking I have found that pasta sticks if too much is in the pot, or if it is low quality. Jun 06 06, 8:11 PM

MyAlias

Poor quality pasta DOES stick quite a bit more than higher quality pasta. Salt will raise the temperature of the boil a few degrees which will cook the pasta differently. Not just quicker, but differently. Salt does aid in the process but only marginally. Jun 06 06, 9:01 PM

peasypod

Trust me on the oil thing, daddy. I cook, oh, about 30 kg (about 60 pounds) of pasta every day.... Jun 06 06, 9:16 PM

starr01

I salt the water before adding pasta to get water to boil faster primarily because my science teacher told me it would boil faster this way. I stir the pasta gently to keep it from sticking and i don't add oil because i believe it makes the sauce slide off. The rest of my family uses oil to keep pasta from sticking; i just don't agree with them. Jun 06 06, 10:03 PM

elburcher

Follow the link to find what adding salt to the water does...(Probably more than you wanted to know!!) http://www.wwnorton.com/catalog/spring02/001183excerpt.htm Jun 07 06, 1:32 PM

elburcher

Sorry for the repeated link... :/ Jun 07 06, 1:33 PM

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