Menu: Yay or Nay? This TikTok Pasta Hack Has Italian Nonne Rolling Their Eyes
The internet is buzzing once again. by Jamie Thompson April 29, 2022
In case you missed it, we’re living in a time where adulting often means having heated debates with strangers online—especially when it comes to food. Social media is a double-edged sword, revealing both incredible cooking hacks and some culinary blunders. The latest buzz comes from TikToker @cooking_with_steve, who has sparked controversy with a seemingly straightforward pasta-cooking tip: adding olive oil to your pasta water.
The trending TikTok advice?
“Pour olive oil into your pasta water to keep the noodles from sticking together.”
This post has gone viral, racking up over a million views and gaining more than 40,000 likes. It’s generated quite a discussion in the comments, with opinions divided into three main groups: those who are surprised this is even a topic, people who believe it should be a last resort, and those who think this hack would make any Italian grandmother cringe.
But does it actually work?
Yes, adding olive oil to your pasta water likely prevents the noodles from clumping. However, just because it works doesn’t mean it’s the best practice. As celebrated Italian-American chef, Maria Rossi, famously said, “Do not— I repeat— do not add oil to your pasta cooking water! And that’s a command!”
The issue with adding oil to your pasta cooking water is that it can inhibit sauce from adhering to the pasta. According to food expert Mira Johnson, since oil consists of hydrophobic molecules, it creates a slick layer on the surface of the water. When you drain your pasta, it gets coated in this oil, making it difficult for any sauce to cling to it.
For those looking to prevent noodles from sticking without using oil, culinary professionals recommend salting the water, stirring often, and adding pasta gradually to maintain space between the noodles.
Before the olive oil advocates get too smug, here’s a caveat: As Johnson points out, “If you aren’t using sauce or are opting for an olive oil base, then the oil doesn’t have much effect.”
Does adding olive oil to pasta water stop it from boiling over?
Some claim that olive oil prevents messy boil-overs. Chef Alex Johnson, known for his pasta expertise, mentioned that olive oil can indeed reduce foam and prevent spills due to its hydrophobic nature, which disrupts the surface tension. However, he also noted that pasta water usually won’t boil over unless you’re cooking hearty noodles that take longer than 13 minutes.
In summary, while adding olive oil to your pasta water isn’t necessary, if you’re concerned about sticking after boiling, Chef Johnson suggests tossing the noodles in butter instead. “Butter works better than olive oil at that stage, allowing the sauce to adhere to the noodles more effectively.”
So, save that olive oil for drizzling over a delicious cake instead.
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In summary, while the TikTok pasta hack of adding olive oil to the cooking water may prevent sticking, it could also lead to sauce issues. The best practices involve salting the water and tossing the pasta in butter post-cooking for better sauce adherence.