How to Make Pasta, Cook Pasta & Buy Pasta

While there is a big difference between fresh, laminated, pasta and dried, extruded, pasta, contrary to popular belief, one is not necessarily better than the other. Both are appreciated for their unique qualities and are used for different purposes.

Another big misconception is that all pasta is made in the same manner and is sold either fresh or dried; however, this is not the case. Although they may contain the same ingredients, the difference lies in HOW the dough is formed into pasta. How pasta is manufactured will dramatically affect your pasta experience.

In this lesson, you will learn how both extruded and laminated pasta are made, the differences between them and when you might choose one over the other. You will also learn that regardless of the brand, there are visual clues you can look for when choosing a package of dried pasta or things to be aware of when you are purchasing fresh. By understanding how pasta is made and knowing how to identify quality pasta, you are guaranteed to have the best pasta eating experiences.

Pasta is one of the most loved dishes around the world. In Italy, eating a plate of pasta is a daily ritual – a plate of properly-cooked pasta that is. Remarkably, however, most people inadvertently have been eating improperly cooked pasta for most of their lives.

In this lesson, you will learn the essentials in order to properly cook pasta. You will learn how to cook both dried and fresh pasta and how to test each type for doneness. You will also learn how to properly drain, sauce and serve pasta. Finally, you will learn how to match different sauces to the type of pasta you are cooking.

Even though cooking pasta is perceived to be very simple, you may be quite surprised to find out how many mistakes are commonly made. If pasta is a mainstay in your culinary repertoire, this lesson is sure to change the way you enjoy it.

Laminated pasta contains flour, water and/or eggs which are mixed together, kneaded and then squeezed through rollers. In addition to more common shapes, like fettuccini or spaghetti, laminated fresh pasta is also made to produce things like cannelloni, ravioli, tortellini, or hand-cut pappardelle noodles.

Laminated pasta takes more time to make than simply buying pasta, but the end result is well worth the effort. Making your own pasta is not only an extremely satisfying experience, but it also allows you to control the flavor, thickness, shape, and filling. Imagine lasagne made with thick commercially made noodles, compared to layers of thinly-rolled, fresh pasta sheets. Eating tender, delicate pasta is a completely different experience than eating commercially dried pasta.

In this lesson, you will learn about the types of flour used to make pasta. You will learn how to make pasta dough by hand and by using a food processor. You will also learn how to knead the dough, roll it through a pasta machine and various ways to cut and shape it. Finally, you will learn how to vary the color of pasta dough, so you can add interesting flavor and color to your cooking.

Mastering the simple process of making your own pasta allows you to create many new and exciting dishes.

This instructional cooking video on Pasta Cooking Essentials, is part of the Rouxbe Cooking School.

This cooking video is taken from the lesson on
How to Cook Pasta.

This instructional cooking video on Cooking & Testing Dried, Extruded Pasta, is part of the Rouxbe Cooking School.

This cooking video is taken from the lesson on
How to Cook Pasta.

This instructional cooking video on Making Pasta Dough in a Food Processor, is part of the Rouxbe Cooking School.

This cooking video is taken from the lesson on
How to Make Fresh Pasta | Laminated Pasta.

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