Prevent cooked pasta from sticking by tossing with olive oil if it will sit
After draining, add a little olive oil and toss to keep pasta from clumping if you’re not using it immediately.
The video warns drained pasta can get sticky in the pan. If it will sit while you finish other components, add olive oil to prevent sticking; if using right away, you can skip it.
The short version
- Oil is most useful when pasta will sit before being used
- Toss to coat evenly
How to do it
- 1
Drain/strain the pasta once cooked.
Watch this step - 2
If the pasta will sit before serving, add a small amount of olive oil.
Skip this if you’re using it immediately in a dish, per the video.
Watch this step - 3
Toss to coat so strands/pieces don’t clump together.
Watch this step
What goes wrong
Letting drained pasta sit dry in the pot so it clumps
Toss with a little oil if it must wait
Why it works
/Oil coats surfaces and reduces adhesion between strands/pieces while resting.
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