Pasta worksheet - worksheet 23b

1 Why is it important to have the water boiling rapidly before adding the pasta?

Pasta quickly begins to break down in lukewarm water starch starts to dissolve. The intense heat of the boiling water creates a 'barrier' around the outside of the pasta, which stops the pasta from sticking together. The water temperature drops when the pasta is added, however with rapidly boiling water, the water will still be hot enough to cook the pasta.

2 How do you test if pasta is al dente?

One way of telling if the pasta is al dente is if you cut a pasta piece in half. If you are able to see a different between the center and outer ring of the pasta, then it is not completely done. If the pasta is one constant shade and texture, then it is done.

3 Why is the garlic and onion cooked first when making most pasta sauces?

You sauté the onion and garlic before the rest of the ingredients is added because if they haven’t been sautéed enough, the onions and garlic would stay relatively crunchy in the dish.  You also cook the garlic and onion first so that you can bring out the sugars in the onion and garlic by caramelizing it. If you don’t do this first, they will still be a bit sweet, but not caramelized. 

4 A bolognese sauce is simmered uncovered for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Why does it need to be cooked for this long?

A bolognese sauces takes that long because it takes a long time for the flavours in the sauce to develop and mature, which results in a tasty sauce. It also takes a while so it can break down the meat and so that the meat can absorb all the flavours.

5 What are some reasons for the popularity of pre-made bottled pasta sauces?

Some reasons for the popularity of pre-made bottled pasta sauce would be the connivence of having pasta sauce without all the hassle and because people are busy, the taste and quality is really good and you can get different flavours and varieties that you wouldn't normally expect.

6 These sauces do not contain many vegetables. This often leads to pasta dishes that are made from a packet of pasta and a jar of sauce. What are the health problems associated with eating this style of meal?

Vegetables provide substance for the body, along with essential vitamins and minerals. When lacking vitamins and minerals, the body may not function to the best of its ability, and would therefore cause your body to possibly fatigue quicker and you would not be able to function as well as you could.

7 What are some other disadvantages of buying ready-made pasta products?

Some disadvantages of buying ready-made pasta products would include that the consumer may not be fully aware of the ingredients in the product, and they may not know if a certain product is dangerous for them or not. You are also not sure if the ingredients used are 100% fresh, or have even passed the expiry dates (there was a report on a ready-made food product that used no fresh ingredients)