Angel hair pasta is one of my favorite pasta. At first glance, it resembles spaghetti, but it is much finer. Due to its delicate structure, it cooks very fast and therefore is a good option for those who are in a hurry. Making it in the microwave is very easy. In less than 10 minutes, you’ll have your pasta ready.
Can You Cook Angel Hair Pasta in the Microwave?
You can cook angel hair pasta in the microwave. But you need to follow certain precautions because of its delicate structure, angel hair pasta is particularly prone to clumping together. This can happen no matter what cooking method you use.
Here’s a short guide on how to cook angel hair pasta in the microwave:
Break the angel hair pasta in half. Pour enough water into the bowl to cover the pasta by 2 inches. Microwave on high for 6 minutes. Stir the pasta after removing it from the microwave oven. Then return it to the microwave and cook for another 3 minutes. Drain the pasta and top it with sauce and your favorite toppings.
How Long Does It Take To Cook Angel Hair Pasta in the Microwave?
The cooking time depends on the volume of pasta and its thickness. The thicker the pasta, the longer it takes to cook. Generally speaking, for thinner pasta like angel hair, the cooking time is around 9 to 12 minutes.
To be sure, check the pasta cooking instructions on the packaging. If you cook the pasta the American way, where you dump the sauce on top when serving instead of mixing the two while cooking, you need to add 3 minutes more than the cooking time mentioned on the package.
You need the extra heat to allow the sauce to evenly coat the pasta strands and mix in with the sauce.
How to Cook Angel Hair Pasta in the Microwave
Before we get to the step-by-step cooking process, here are a few things you’ll need to prepare.
Things You’ll Need:
- A microwave-safe dish or a microwave pasta cooker
- Colander
- Fork or spatula
Ingredients:
- 8 oz angel hair pasta, broken in half
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- dash of salt
- 2 1/2 cups of water
- 14.5 oz can of crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoon parmesan cheese
Once you have all the things ready, you can now begin to cook your angel hair pasta.
1. Break the Angel Hair Pasta in Half
The first thing to do when cooking angel hair pasta in the microwave is to break it in half. It does make it easier to cook since you don’t have to deal with a long strand of pasta sticking out of the container. Long angel hair pasta can be difficult to stir and break apart.
Some people may prefer not to break the angel hair pasta because they want to wrap the pasta around their fork when they eat it. That’s okay if you’re going to do it that way. But to make it work, you need to use a container that can hold the whole length of angel hair pasta, such as a microwave pasta cooker.
2. Place the Pasta in the Bowl and Pour Water
Take the bowl that you have prepared and put the pasta inside. Then pour some water in to cover the pasta. You can use either room temperature water or tap water; both are okay.
The most important thing to remember in this step is that the pasta must be completely submerged in water or else it will not cook properly. As a general rule, pour enough water to cover the pasta, then add about 2 inches of extra water.
Keep in mind that when you cook the pasta, it will expand and absorb some of the water, which is why it’s better to use more water than less. If you use a microwave pasta cooker, check the instructions first for the suggested amount of water.
3. Microwave the Pasta for 3 Minutes Longer Than the Recommended Cooking Time
Once the pasta is in the bowl, place it in the microwave. Then read the instruction on the box to find the cooking time and add 3 minutes more than what it says. For example, if the instruction says to cook for 9 minutes on high, you will need to add an extra 3 minutes for a total of 12 minutes.
After half the cooking time, check the pasta to ensure it’s not boiling over and stir it using a fork or spatula. The pasta will still be rather hard at this point, so don’t worry if it looks a little undercooked. Continue microwaving it for the remaining time.
4. Drain the Pasta
Once the pasta is cooked, carefully remove it from the microwave. Use an oven mitt to protect your hands. Then, set a colander in the sink and slowly pour the pasta into it to drain the water.
5. Top It With Sauce and Your Favorite Toppings
The last step is to top it with your favorite sauce and ingredients. Because of its delicate shape, it’s best to keep angel hair pasta simple and light to match with just a few ingredients.
It pairs well with simple, light sauces such as pesto sauce and light seafood ingredients such as scallops. Fresh veggies including red onion, carrot, broccoli, bell pepper, yellow squash, zucchini, tomatoes, and garlic work well too.
How Do You Keep Angel Hair Pasta From Sticking Together?
Many people have trouble with their angel hair pasta sticking together. Here are some tips to prevent this from happening.
- Make sure that your container is large enough for the pasta to move around and expand.
- Stir the pasta at least once during cooking.
- Angel hair pasta needs to be half-cooked in the microwave and then finished off in the sauce. This is the secret trick used by professional chefs to ensure that the pasta will not clump.
- Don’t add oil to the pasta. Many people are mistakenly taught to add oil into the water to keep the pasta from sticking. Unfortunately, this won’t work because oil isn’t water-soluble, so the oil will actually separate from the water and float up to the surface. What is even worse is that it prevents the sauce from sticking to the pasta, which will ruin your dish.
Is Angel Hair Pasta Healthy?
Angel hair pasta is considered a healthy dish. A 2-ounce serving of angel hair pasta delivers about 31 grams of carbs and 10 grams of protein. Adding meat can further increase the protein content.
Conclusion
Angel hair pasta is a type of thin, long noodle that’s typically served in Italian cuisine. It has become more popular recently due to its quick cooking time and versatile use as an ingredient for topping dishes or adding into soups. When it comes to cooking angel hair pasta at home, you have the option of boiling it on the stovetop or microwaving it.
If you’re in a time crunch, microwaving angel hair pasta is the best way to cook it. Follow all the steps listed in this article to make sure your pasta is perfectly cooked. Once it’s cooked, you can top it with your favorite sauce or ingredients.
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