New York Times food writer Harold McGee tackles a question we here at Phoodie have honestly never considered: Why use so much water when boiling pasta? In this time of super sensitivity towards wasting anything, McGee began to ponder all the energy needed to boil quarts of water per pound of pasta, and the water itself, most of which gets dumped down the drain immediately following cooking. Being Italian-Americans, and having never even considered this, the idea struck us as something that only one who has too much guilt and/or time on their hands would consider. But we are willing to give anything a listen.
McGee began experimenting with different amount of pasta water, and with the concept of using much less water (about 2 quarts) and putting the pasta in cold water. Now, we get what he is trying to do here, and saving anything right now does seem like the right thing to do. But please, we urge you, do not put pasta in cold water. It makes it chewy, and takes flavor away. And even Lidia Bastianich (our favorite Italian), whom McGee consulted, said “Yes, I think itβs doable to reduce the cooking water by one third. But please βbutta la pastaβ in boiling water.β Well said, Lidia. Butta la pasta indeed.
Any thoughts on the subject? And don’t you dare tell us to cut down on the water and just add oil. Nonna DelRomano just rolled over in her grave.
NYT: Any Other Ideas On How To Save Money? No, Ok, Run The Pasta Water Piece.
Even AB says no less than a gallon of water: http://www.goodeatsfanpage.com/Season1/Pasta/PastaTranscript.htm
Contrary to the back of many a box of pasta, pasta needs a lot of water. A single 3 to 4 ounce portion can squeeze by on 3 quarts, but as a rule, I never cook any amount of pasta in less than a gallon of water.
That’s 4 quarts, 8 pints, or 16 cups, or 256 tablespoons, or 768 teaspoons which is to say 128 ounces. Not a drop less.
A pound of pasta, roughly enough for four adults, I go six quarts. Two pounds and I get another pot.
We’ve always had a simple solution: save the water in another pot until it cools, don’t pour it down the drain. In winter, it heats the house & humidifies too. Bingo, no energy wasted (for 1/2 the year, anyway).