5 simple Techniques on How to Drain Pasta

We all love some pasta. It is easy to dish to make and a very tasty one too. But draining the pasta could be quite a challenge if you don't own a Pasta Strainer.

But not all of us own a Pasta Strainer whether your pantry is too small to fit in more tools if you just shifted to a new apartment and can't find your strainer or if it's a bit too much for your budget.

We get you.

That is why we are here to help you out. After experimenting with different tools, we came up with five ways to drain your pasta without a strainer. All five methods use various tools. So if you don't have one of them, you can try out the rest of the four ways.

So if you want to know how to drain your pasta without a strainer, keep on reading.

How to drain pasta without a strainer

1. Use the lid:

Now, this technique is the most common one when it comes to draining pasta water without a strainer. All you need to do is use the lid of your Pasta Pot. And if you don't have a matching lid, don't worry, you can use any lid that fits the opening of your pasta pot.

To drain your pasta, place the lid firmly against the opening of your pot. Then slowly turn it sideways over a sink to drain the pasta water. The water will start draining from the pot, but make sure that you hold it tightly. If the opening is too wide, the pasta may fall off with the water, especially spaghetti.

Method aspects

● Works for all kinds of pasta

● Takes less time

● Calls for extra cautiousness

2. Use tongs or forks:

If you have a tong in your pantry, then now is the time for you to use it. This kitchen tool, which is often used to pick up your food, can also be used to drain pasta.

To drain your pasta, all you need to do is use the tong and scoop your pasta to a different bowl. And that's it! And if you don't have a tong, you can use a fork to scoop up your pasta. But it a fork won't be helpful if you're dealing with long thread pasta-like spaghetti. Although this process is pretty easy, it is also very time-consuming.

Method aspects

● Time-consuming

● Forks can't be used for longer strained pasta

3. Use spoon:

You can also use a spoon to drain your pasta. However, it would be best if you used a large spoon over regular ones. You can use a regular table spoon, but that will only pick up two to three pasta at a time and take forever for you to drain all pasta completely.

To drain your pasta, take your spoon and scoop up the pasta. Then hold the spoon against the inner wall of the pot and drain out the excess water. But don't try it out for longer strained pasta.

Method aspects

● Easy to do

● Doesn't work for longer stained pasta

● Time-consuming

4. Use a spider or slotted spoon:

If you own a spider or slotted spoon, it will work even better than regular ones. Since these spoons have hollow spaces or holes, they work great as a proxy strainer.

To drain your pasta, just scoop up your pasta and let the water drain—that simple. However, if you use a slotted spoon with larger holes to drain longer strained pasta like spaghetti, the pasta would slip through the holes.

Method aspects

● Takes less time

● Doesn't work for longer stained pasta

5. Use a dishtowel:

You can also use a dishtowel to drain your pasta. But you need to be extra careful about this one. If you're not careful enough you can burn your hand from the hot water.

Take a dish towel and place it over an empty bowl. Then, carefully hold it down, pour the pasta with water over the towel, and let it drain through the drain. It is better to have an extra helping hand while doing this process.

Method aspects

● Works for all kinds of pasta

● Calls for extra cautiousness

● Takes less time

How to cook pasta without straining it

We all know how to make some pasta. Boil it, strain it, and then add some pasta sauce.

That's it, right?

But this Italian dish can be made in multiple ways, even without straining it. The pasta water that you get from boiling the pasta can do wonders for your dish. Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson uses pasta water for her famous squid spaghetti in her book Nigellissima.

If you want to know how to do it too, then keep on reading.

1. Take your desired choice of pasta and put it in a pasta pot with a small amount of water. The water level is just above the pasta. Suppose it's too less than you can always add some extra water.

2. Keep stirring the pasta throughout the boiling process. Make sure to pour some oil or butter into the mixture so that it doesn't stick to one another.

3. After the pasta is cooked properly, add your desired spices, and add ons. You'll notice there's a small amount of pasta water left behind. But don't worry because the starch from the leftover water is what will bring your recipe together.

4. Pour the pasta in a serving plate and enjoy.

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