Does olive oil stop spaghetti sticking together when cooking?

Question

Does olive oil stop spaghetti sticking together when cooking?

Answer 1

no.  the important thing to keep it from clumping is having a large pot, plenty of water, and lots of room for it to move around.  and stir a few times during the cooking.

Answer 2

no the way you gte them to stop stiking is if you boil the hot water and then add the spaghetti in it while the hot wter is boiled.

if you just add spaghetti into the water when the water is cold and starting to boil it will stick.

Answer 3

not when its cooking (cuz the oil will float to the surface...) but when its done, yes, olive oil does keep noodles from sticking.

its what i use to keep my chinese noodles separate =p but your spaghetti might taste a bit different.

to unstick noodles while cooking, be sure to stir regularly.

Answer 4

yes, actually...  and if you want to stop it from boiling over if you're multitasking, add a teaspoon of oil and a teaspoon of vinegar.   works every time.

-Tanner

hope i helped!

Answer 5

no it doesn't.  the spaghetti cannot absorb enough oil to coat every single one of them, therefore the oil can't keep them from sticking together.  however there is another reason for putting oil in when your boiling pasta, it keeps the foam from forming on top if you are using a smaller pot. details at source.  Go down around 2/3 of the page and its at scene 13/myth #4.

Answer 6

Olive Oil HELPS pasta from sticking.  Does not stop it.  Stir pasta often, that is the key and make sure pasta is in boiling hot water that is bubbling (more constant motion).

Answer 7

Any oil will work, stir spaghetti in boiling oiled water after adding, until the water boils again, then reduce heat to a slow boil. Drain spaghetti when andante not mushy or too soft. You can stir in a little olive oil to bowl after draining to make sure it doesn't stick, before adding sauce. Enjoy!

Answer 8

Any oil will coat the spaghetti and help prevent it from sticking. Just make certain you stir it enough to get it on all of it.

Answer 9

Yes it will help a lot. The best way to avoid that though is to not overcook it. The longer you cook pasta the more the starches break down - that's what causes it to stick together.

Answer 10

- The pasta must be cooked in plenty of boiling salted water: 5 quarts of water and 1 tablespoon of salt for every 12 ounces to 1 pound of pasta (scale up as needed)..

- Salt is absolutely necessary in the cooking water. Pasta is inherently bland, so it needs salt to pump up the flavor.

- After the pasta goes into the boiling water, give it a couple of good stirs.

- Never put oil in the cooking water. It just makes the pasta slippery, destroys the pasta-starch connection and ultimately prevents a good bonding of the sauce and the pasta. Pasta will never stick together if you use a quality brand and plenty of water.

- Drain the pasta as soon as it is al dente. It will continue to cook a bit due to its interior heat, so don't push it to the limit.

- The only time cooked pasta should be rinsed is when it is to be used for a cold pasta salad. The reason for not rinsing pasta otherwise is that the fine film of starch that rises to the surface of the cooked pasta actually enhances the flavor and helps the sauce cling to the pasta (the sauce absorbs the starch). If a tomato-water ends up in the bottom of the pasta bowl (not a good sight), it means someone rinsed the pasta.

Answer 11

Yes, but you should make sure the water is at a rolling boil and there's plenty of water for the quantity of pasta before you put the pasta in. Stir it once the water has come back to the boil. If you want to add oil you can use any oil, but extra virgin olive oil will add a certain 'je ne sais quoi'.

Answer 12

Yes add a tablespoon into boiling water before putting in the pasta and it will keep the spaghetti from sticking together.

Answer 13

no, the trick is to twirl the sketi as you put it in the hot water

Answer 14

yes i would say so. it makes the spaghetti lubricated, more smooth, not so sticky

Answer 15

Any Italian chef will tell you that this idea is nothing but a myth. It does nothing to the pasta - it just helps increase the profit of the olive oil producers !

Answer 16

Yes. While the water is boiling, add your salt, and a very quick splash of olive oil. Then you can let it boil, stir occasionally, it will be slippery in the pot and clean in the strainer. Do not rinse your pasta. Transfer to plate or bowl and add your sauce.

Hope it helps.

Answer 17

Yes, but ...

If you use enough water, add the pasta when the water is boiling, stir the pasta frequently and don’t wander off (‘Gli spaghetti amano la compagnia’, or ‘spaghetti loves company’) and don’t overcook it, adding olive oil to the water to stop it sticking is totally unnecessary.

The problem is that the oil not only stops the pasta sticking to itself (which you don't want), but also stops the sauce sticking to the pasta (which you do want).

Answer 18

Yes  I do that all the time.

Also a dash of vinegar in with the water when you're making poached eggs stops the white and the yolk drifting apart.

Answer 19

Yes. but it's not while cooking that the spaghetti sticks, its after you drain it.  when you have the oil, it stays on the spaghetti when you drain it.  I kind of don't like to use it though, because the oil makes the sauce not stick either.

Answer 20

good, italian spaghetti don't stick together. anyhow, always put on a lot of water, they must be free to move. I wouldn't add oil, it does prevent sticking but the taste would be, well, doctored.

Answer 21

any kind of oil will keep it from sticking and of course olive oil is a little more healthy for you.

Answer 22

Yes, add a tea-spoon or two;-} it floats on the surface.

It prevents boiling over while cooking, by preventing bubbles.

When you lift the spaghetti out, the oil coats the strands.

If you dump it in a colander, you may lose the effect,

because the oil will be poured out first; so add some more.

Answer 23

Yes, I put a little in the water and wait until it boils before putting in the spaghetti.  I use it so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot.  If all else fails, I just rinse the pasta off in hot water.

Answer 24

Not during cooking...the oil will just float to the top.  Put a little on AFTER you starin the water out and it'll prevent sticking.

Answer 25

any oil or butter as butter gives a nicer flavor

Answer 26

No.  it doesn't stick while cooking unless you have it in way-too-little water.

Just be ready to serve it as soon as you drain it, and you should have no problems.  wiat until everything else is about done to drop it in the water and set the timer.

Answer 27

Never put oil in the water when boiling pasta...

Just keep the water boiling rapidly but not over flowing.. And it shouldnt stick together at all.. and stir it to separate it a bit..

Putting oil in the water while boiling pasta shouldnt be done, because the sauce that you will add after wont stick to it as much..

I used to put oil.. but i stopped doing that, and spaghetti tastes better if the sauce sticks to the pasta :)

Answer 28

yes but it also stops the sauce from adhering to the pasta

Answer 29

Put a splash (and just a splash!) into the boiling water, then add the pasta and it will not stick.

Answer 30

no it doesn't because oil will float to the top...not having enough water in the pot, putting spaghetti in water before it is at a rolling boil will cause it to stick together.  Use a big pot, lots of boiling water, add salt after water is boiling(salted water takes longer to come to a boil) make sure to separate the spaghetti with a fork when you add it to the water because if you just thow in in one clump then that is what you will get.  Good Luck!

Answer 31

yes it will but you don't need to splash out buying olive oil for that.  Just don't use motor oil lol!