Techniques
Meal Prep
Skill
Beginner
1 min

Stop pasta cooking by rinsing/cooling in cold water (then oil) when you need to hold it

If you need to pause before using pasta, cool it in cold water to stop cooking, then add a little oil to prevent sticking.

For situations where other components take time, the video suggests cooling fully cooked pasta in cold water to halt cooking. Then add a little oil so it won’t stick to itself while waiting.

The short version

  • Use when you need to hold pasta while finishing other food

How to do it

  1. 1

    Once pasta is fully cooked, cool it in cold water to stop the cooking process.

    Watch this step
  2. 2

    Add a little oil and toss to prevent sticking while it waits.

    Watch this step

Why it works

Cooling rapidly reduces carryover cooking; oil helps prevent clumping during holding.

Learn next