Forums: April 2011 Kickstart Forum: Whole wheat pasta
Created on: 04/11/11 06:29 PM Views: 2005 Replies: 10
adrianne Joined: 04/03/11 Posts: 29	Whole wheat pasta Posted Monday, April 11, 2011 at 6:29 PM I made pasta this evening and although the box said cook in boiling water for about 10 minutes, I felt that the spaghetti was still a tad bit hard. Is it supposed to be like this--because its full of fiber? This is my second time making pasta and I'm just wondering if maybe I should have let it cook longer than what the box said. http://eatpraylovevegan.blogspot.com www
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gryphonpro Joined: 01/30/11 Location: Cape Breton, NS, Canada Posts: 239	RE: Whole wheat pasta Posted Monday, April 11, 2011 at 6:52 PM I find that the cooking times on pasta boxes is always relative. It depends on sea level, among other things, but I assume you are at the same sea level you are usually at It also depends on the temperature the water gets to, the size of the pot and how much water to pasta you have room for, and personal taste. If you feel that the pasta was still too firm, you should definitely try cooking a bit longer. With whole grain pasta there is another challenge, with certain brands. They just don't seem to cook the way as white pastas. Some seem to firm, and then get mushy suddenly. Try another brand. Some also react well to cooking to that firm point, then letting the pasta sit in the hot water for five minutes before straining. That seems to plump it up without it getting overcooked. You know how pasta always gets more plump and soft when it is in a soup and you leave it until the next day? You can fake that with a few minutes in the hot water, but off the heat. Good luck, as whole grain pasta is good once you get the brand you like and you technique down. - madeline madeline yakimchuk Director: MEET IRENE - An Unlikely Vegan GRYPHON media productions www
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cch22 Joined: 09/08/10 Location: New York State Posts: 1000	RE: Whole wheat pasta Posted Monday, April 11, 2011 at 6:59 PM Pasta.. Take a large pot.. sometimes called a dutch oven.. like the big one with a handle on each side.. fill almost to the top (a couple of inches away)... the more water the better.. This is where many people make their mistake.. you can't have too much water.. well unless you use a stock pot for a half package. Bring the water to a full boil. Drop the pasta in. cook to directions.. taste..when you can't feel hard in the center it is done... so to get the hang of it..if it says cook 10 min.. taste after 8, then you will see the center is hard.. and you will see what i am talking about.. when that is gone.. your pasta is done. some people rinse pasta. This usually adds to a watery sauce. some other people just put a little sauce on the hot pasta to keep it from sticking together. whatever you do.. if there is pasta left in the pot, sticking to the sides of the pan when you drain it, either get it out of there then or add more water to the pan to cover that pasta or you will be scrubbing to get it off. hope this helps..
	Edited 04/11/11 7:00 PM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
mollyhorn Joined: 03/03/10 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 582	RE: Whole wheat pasta Posted Monday, April 11, 2011 at 10:41 PM You want the pasta to remain "al dente", which means more firm than you are probably used to with white flour pastas. This way, it will not affect your blood sugar as drastically. Molly Horn
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lampey Joined: 04/04/11 Posts: 10	RE: Whole wheat pasta Posted Monday, April 11, 2011 at 11:12 PM It took me a while to find a whole wheat pasta I liked. I really did not like how it would come out al dente. The Barilla brand is probably the best one I have found.
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cathyb Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 149	RE: Whole wheat pasta Posted Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 1:04 AM I have been using only WW pasta for almost 20 years. I agree with Mollyhorn, you don't want it mushy. I was buying TJs organic pasta because the price was great, even better than buying through my buying club by the 10lb case! Lately I have been buying it from a wonderful, huge, local store (Woodmans), it is WW organic, and only .99 for a lb bag. It comes in many shapes, and each package has a different cooking time - from 6 or 7 minutes for fettucine to 13 min for shells. The brand is Mantova. I don't get to this store often, so when I do go, I get about 2 paper grocery bags full!!
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Bugsmom Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2072	RE: Whole wheat pasta Posted Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 8:28 AM The key is to test it as was mentioned. Fish out a strand or two of spaghetti or a couple shells or whathaveyou and taste it. Or, at least, cut it apart and look at the inside - if it's got a dry, white, center it needs a little more time - the larger the white center, the more time it needs. --Deb R
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mommyof2nc Joined: 12/31/09 Location: North Carolina Posts: 172	RE: Whole wheat pasta Posted Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 8:33 AM cathyb wrote: I have been using only WW pasta for almost 20 years. I agree with Mollyhorn, you don't want it mushy. I was buying TJs organic pasta because the price was great, even better than buying through my buying club by the 10lb case! Lately I have been buying it from a wonderful, huge, local store (Woodmans), it is WW organic, and only .99 for a lb bag. It comes in many shapes, and each package has a different cooking time - from 6 or 7 minutes for fettucine to 13 min for shells. The brand is Mantova. I don't get to this store often, so when I do go, I get about 2 paper grocery bags full!! Oh Woodmans! I miss Woodmans. No other store really compares to it. So you're in Madison, right? Or, has Woodmans expanded into other towns now? Anyway, for WW pasta, I usually cook it a little longer (maybe a minute or two) than it says on the box because my husband won't eat it any other way. lol Also, try to find brown rice pasta - I think it's more tender than WW pasta, though it is a little more expensive.
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mommyof2nc Joined: 12/31/09 Location: North Carolina Posts: 172	RE: Whole wheat pasta Posted Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 8:33 AM Delete - sorry, posted twice for some reason.
	Edited 04/12/11 8:34 AM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
cathyb Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 149	RE: Whole wheat pasta Posted Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 9:17 AM Woodmans has expanded. There are two in the Milwaukee area, with talk of a third in Waukesha. It is great - they have everything!
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Wild4Stars Joined: 12/27/09 Location: Florida Posts: 832	RE: Whole wheat pasta Posted Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 9:54 AM I agree with switching around brands until you find one you like. I usually cook it about 1-2 minutes more than the instruction say. Angel hair, 1 minute more makes it perfect, at least for me. I like Hodgson Mills, DeBoles and Whole Foods Market brand. Vikki ~ Wild4Stars@gmail.com
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