She's not Italian. You don't see Rachael Ray adding oil to her pasta water do you?
WELL DO YOU!!!!!!!!!
Well, I grew up in Italy. One Aunt adds oil to the water, the other doesn't... they've both worked in Restaurant Kitchens in Italy, they're sisters and Italians... so uhm, who's right and who's wrong?
I've talked with various Chefs on the matter:
- some say it is better to add oil to the water to avoid spaghetti from sticking together (but it seems to not have any considerable effect on most other types of pasta, especially not the short/thick versions);
- some say "for heavens sake" don't add oil to the water, it will make the pasta slippery (avoid sticking) as it coats the upper layer of semolina, and doesn't permit sauce from sticking on to the pasta properly;
- others say the quantity of oil you add to the water, has no real effect on the pasta as it is to minuscule a quantity within the water, and anyhows that amount of fat (oil is fat, in case anyone doubts) would just go on to float on top of the water anyways, making it useless.
The
only thing all agree on: the water must be salted before you throw the pasta in.
Though again, they will disagree wether or not to add the salt at the start in cold water, or to add the salt when the water is already boiling, and then waiting that it resumes boiling, before throwing in the pasta.
impdaddy