Once you’ve bought yourself a ton of angel hair pasta from the store, did you wonder: How long do you cook angel hair pasta? Have you had trouble in the cooking department?
Do you tend to burn your chicken? Don’t even know what a souffle is, much less how to keep it from falling?
If so, then you should start with a relatively simple recipe and learn how to perfect it.
Here, we will explain how to cook some angel hair pasta without a mistake. In this complete guide, we will explain exactly how long you will need to spend cooking angel hair pasta.
Now, let’s get started!
Angel hair pasta can have different times for cooking. If you’re looking for al dente angel hair pasta, you only need to boil it for three minutes. You should not cook it for much longer than five minutes, as any longer than that can make the pasta gummy and unpalatable.
How to Cook Angel Hair Pasta
Angel hair pasta is a very thin noodle and is rather delicate. As such, it doesn’t take long at all to cook angel hair pasta. The taste is very light and has plenty of flavors.
Like most long pastas, it does better with oil-based cream sauces that won’t weigh it down.
That’s why angel hair is a popular summer noodle, especially when paired with garlic sauce and seafood.
When it’s time to try your hand at cooking up this divinely delicate pantry staple, be sure to follow these steps for the perfectly al dente dinner dish.
Steps to Cook:
- Fill a large pot with water and toss in a dash of salt. Use 4 to 6 ounces of water per pound of angel hair pasta.
- Put the angel hair into the boiling water and add a couple of drops of olive or other neutral oil to the pasta. This prevents the pasta from clumping together as it cooks.
- Cook the angel hair pasta for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Take one piece of pasta out of the water with a fork. Rinse it with cold water and bite into it to see if it is done.
- Put the pasta into a colander and drain the water.
- Administer your favorite sauce to the pasta.
Tip: You don’t want to overcook angel hair pasta since it would get too sticky when boiled too long.
What Should You Add to Angel Hair Pasta?
There are tons of delicious ingredients you can add to your angel hair pasta.
Some of the potential choices include:
- Tomato sauce
- Garlic and herbs
- Pesto sauce
- Plain olive oil or butter
- Salt and pepper or some of your favorite spices
Tip: You can add all sorts of delicious protein to angel hair pasta. For instance, the pasta tastes great with salmon, shrimp, pork, or teriyaki chicken.
You may even want to have a lighter pasta to go alongside your steak.
Below, we outline a delicious shrimp scampi recipe with cooked angel hair pasta.
Shrimp Scampi Recipe with Angel Hair Pasta
Our shrimp scampi recipe includes using many delicious ingredients like one pound of large shrimp, four cloves of minced garlic, two tablespoons of olive oil, and one pound of angel hair pasta.
Some other key ingredients include:
- Half of a teaspoon of red pepper flakes
- One juiced lemon and zest of a lemon
- Half a cup of Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc
- Five tablespoons of butter
- One-quarter of a cup of thinly julienned parsley leaves
Shrimp Scampi Recipe with Angel Hair Pasta – Recipe
The methodology for a shrimp scampi recipe using angel hair pasta involves the steps below.
Step #1 Add the Angel Hair Pasta
Bring a pot of water to boil and add the angel hair pasta. Cook over medium heat until the pasta turns al dente, or slightly firm but still tender.
Step #2 Saute it
Turn on the stove and put a large skillet on the burner. Pour some olive oil into the skillet and heat at a medium-high temperature.
Saute the shrimp in the oil for about two or three minutes. Remove the shrimp and put it on a plate.
Add garlic cloves and pepper flakes to the skillet. Saute for one minute.
Add lemon juice and white wine. Bring the heat up to a high temperature. After two or three minutes, add butter until it melts.
Pour in a ladle of the water you boiled the pasta in. Put the shrimp back in the pan.
Step #3 Drain the Noodles
Drain the noodles in a colander, then add the angel hair pasta into the pan with chopped parsley, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Toss everything and then transfer to a serving platter.
So, How Long Do You Cook Angel Hair Pasta? More Details
At the end of the day, how long do you cook angel hair pasta?
Generally, you should stick to cooking angel hair pasta for three to five minutes as long as you throw it in a pot of boiling water.
However, you should likely look at the package instructions to see if there are any differences in cooking time.
Tip: You will want to avoid putting the pasta into a pot of cold water and then turning on the burner.
Doing that, waiting for the pasta to boil, and then waiting an additional five minutes could lead the pasta to overcook.
How Long Do You Cook Angel Hair Pasta in Instant Pot?
It’s rather straightforward to cook angel hair pasta in an Instant Pot. First, you’ll need to add broth, cream, garlic, salt, pepper, and other great seasonings you love.
Stir these ingredients and then add the angel hair pasta on top to the pressure cooker.
Cover the angel hair pasta with broth and cream. Close the Instant Pot and lock the lid. Press the high-temperature button and set the timer for three minutes.
Wait for about 15 minutes and then release the pressure carefully. Use the quick release technique and wait for five minutes.
Now, unlock and remove the lid. Put the angel hair pasta on a serving platter.
Tip: Add some breaded chicken and a fresh cucumber salad to the angel hair pasta. Now, you’ve got yourself a meal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Do You Know When Angel Hair Pasta Is Done?
You need to check whether you finished cooking the noodles once you’ve boiled the pasta for at least three or four minutes.
As such, take a piece of the angel hair pasta out of the boiling water with a fork and cool it under cold water.
Then, you should take a bite of the pasta and see if it is firm, but you can chew it easily. If so, then the pasta is al dente.
If you don’t want al dente, then make sure the pasta is soft to the bite. Either way, the pasta is done when it meets these requirements.
How Do You Avoid Overcooking Angel Hair Pasta?
One way to avoid overcooking angel hair pasta is to use a large pot and plenty of water so that the noodles are not overcrowded.
Also, use a kitchen timer and turn off the stove immediately upon reaching 3-5 minutes of cooking time.
Does Angel Hair Pasta Cook Faster?
Yes, it usually cooks faster than thicker types of pasta. Since it cooks in such a short amount of time, it needs plenty of water to move around in during boiling.
Before You Go
After reading our guide, you should know the answer to “How long do you cook angel hair pasta?”
Since this pasta is so thin and delicate, it only takes about three to five minutes to cook this food in hot, boiling water.
Now, go out and try cooking some angel hair pasta. Let us know how it goes and how tasty your meal was!