Gordon Ramsay's new YouTube series restarts age-old debate
To add olive oil or not to pasta water? That is the question
In the second episode of his new series on YouTube, "Cooking Basics", Gordon Ramsay shows us the best way to cook pasta. The debate comes from what he seasons his pasta water with...
Most people will agree pasta water is best when salted generously, but adding olive oil to the water has always been up for debate.
Italian grandmothers everywhere will tell you it's not needed. A lot of chefs and home cooks alike will agree it's a waste of olive oil and that it does nothing for your pasta.
There are two things people that do put olive oil in their pasta water will claim. The first is what Gordon Ramsay states in his video; that it will stop the pasta from sticking to itself as it cooks. The second is that it will stop the water in the pot from boiling over.
Like many, I used to put olive oil in pasta water until I heard from a chef that it was not doing anything for my pasta. For the past 10 years, I've never put oil in my pasta and they have not stuck to themselves. The trick is to always have a pot that is large enough for your pasta to move around while it cooks. Gordon knows about that trick too since he recommends it himself, just after he tells us to add olive oil.
I admire Gordon Ramsay's techniques and I thank him for his videos about how to chop different things: they have truly changed my life. But, it is surprising to see him adhere to the age-old myth that olive oil does anything to pasta water.
The answer lies in the physics of the process. Olive oil is lighter than water and will therefore always float on top. Very little of that splash of oil will actually get mixed in with your water. This means that your pasta will have very little chance of actually touching the oil that is on the surface. Adding a splash of oil to your pasta after you drain out the water will have a much better effect.
As a bonus tip, always keep a bit of that pasta water when you drain it out to add it back to your sauce; it is gold.
We want to hear from you, do you add olive oil to your pasta water?
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Comments (4)
I always add a tsp of oil, usually just vegetable oil to the boiling water. Stops the bubbles from clumping together and boiling over.
It’s never happened to me, but maybe try using a larger pot
Does it stop the water boiling over? As the moment I turn my back on a pot of anything it cascades over the sides (Pay Attention Woman.!!!)
I always add the oil but more for keeping it from boiling over than anything else. I also lay a wooden spoon across the top of the pot just in case 😉