Comment by bell-cot
8 hours ago
For those who haven't done much cooking - this bubble-busting trick works in a wide variety of situations. Very useful.
Some proteins seem to have a similar effect - but I haven't tried to narrow that down, and don't know the food science behind it.
Is this why my grandma put oil in the pasta pot?
yes. It also keeps the pasta from sticking together as quickly after you drain it. But an Italian friend made a face and said "it will keep the sauce from adhering to the pasta!!!' so... yeah.
That's to reduce the pasta sticking together as it cooks.
In my experience, stirring within the first tens of seconds of submersion is enough and it won't stick together again for the rest of the boil. After it's strained is a different matter, but you might as well wait until then if you're going to oil it.
Doubtful because it just floats on the surface. Maybe ones you pour the water out?
Not Strega Nona tho.