Yes, you can. While boiling pasta on the stove remains the traditional and most reliable method for perfectly cooking angel hair pasta, microwaves offer a faster, lower-mess alternative that requires less water and preparation time. When properly prepared with a small amount of oil or butter and frequently stirred during cooking, angel hair pasta cooked in the microwave achieves an al dente texture that pairs well with most pasta sauces and complements lighter dishes.
By following tested time and power settings customized for the specific brand and thickness of angel hair pasta, microwaving enables home cooks to prepare this delicate pasta with sufficient doneness for satisfying meals on busy weeknights. Though not ideal for all types of pasta, microwaves provide an efficient alternative cooking method for angel hair when speed in the kitchen trumps the pursuit of perfection.
In this post, we’ll explore easy techniques that culinary experts recommend for successfully cooking angel hair pasta in the microwave to achieve restaurant-quality results using simple kitchen equipment. We’ll cover a basic microwave pasta cooking method, ideal time and power settings for different brands, tips for ensuring success, recommendations for which pasta sauces pair especially well and answers to common questions on microwaving other pasta shapes.
By employing simple microwave cooking techniques customized for the unique qualities of angel hair pasta, home cooks can bring this delicate yet flavorful pasta to the table with sufficient texture and flavor for satisfying low-mess meals―proving microwaves a worthy weapon in the weekly battle against boxed mac and cheese. With the right preparation, microwaving angel hair pasta proves itself a convenient and effective alternative for everyday victories in the kitchen.
Microwave Method
To cook angel hair pasta in the microwave that achieves restaurant-quality results in just minutes, follow these basic steps:
- Place dry angel hair pasta in a microwave-safe bowl – The bowl should be large enough to allow pasta enough room to cook without creating a mess during frequent stirring.
- Add oil or butter and salt – Immediately after adding dry pasta to the bowl, stir in 1 tablespoon of oil or melted butter and 1/4 teaspoon of table salt per serving of pasta. The fat and salt will coat and season noodles during cooking.
- Pour in water – Pour in between 1/2 to 3/4 cup of water per serving to sufficiently hydrate and partially cook the pasta. Additional water can be added in 1 tablespoon increments if pasta becomes too dry during cooking.
- Cover bowl with vented plastic wrap – Lay plastic wrap over the bowl and secure it by folding the edges down around the rim. The plastic allows steam to escape while keeping pasta contained.
- Microwave on high in 1 minute intervals – Initially microwave pasta on high power (100%) for 1 minute at a time, stirring thoroughly after each minute to ensure even cooking. Adjust time based on pasta brand and desired doneness.
- Continue microwaving and stirring – Continue microwaving pasta in 1 minute increments and stirring after each until al dente, adding additional 1 tablespoon water at a time if noodles become dry.
- Let stand covered for 1 to 2 minutes – After removing pasta from microwave, cover bowl again and allow noodles to stands for a few minutes to finish cooking and ensure al dente texture.
- Toss with sauce immediately – After standing time, toss hot angel hair pasta thoroughly with desired sauce to ensure even coating and maximize sauce absorption.
By following these simple microwave cooking steps customized for angel hair pasta’s unique qualities, home cooks achieve restaurant-quality results with minimal water, mess and preparation―perfect for nights when speed takes priority over perfection in the kitchen.
Cooking Time
Ideal microwave cooking times for al dente angel hair pasta vary widely based on several factors specific to the particular pasta brand and type:
- Brand and density – Different angel hair pasta brands naturally contain varying levels of residual moisture in their dried noodles as well as differences in thickness and overall density. These qualities impact cook time requirements.
- Moisture level – Especially fine, dried-out angel hair pastas tend to require shorter microwaving at 30 to 60 seconds total while standard supermarket brands typically need 60 to 90 seconds. Fresher or artisanal varieties may require as much as 2 minutes.
- Thickness – Thinner angel hair pastas cook in under a minute while thicker, denser noodles may require over 2 full minutes of microwaving in intervals to achieve an al dente texture. Exact requirements vary by brand.
- Desired doneness – The degree of bite and resistance preferred in finished angel hair pasta naturally impacts required microwaving time, with more al dente textures necessitating slightly longer cooking.
- Microwave wattage – Higher-wattage microwaves (1200+ watts) tend to cook angel hair pasta slightly faster than lower-wattage microwaves due to delivering more concentrated heat to noodles. Adjust times accordingly.
In summary, numerous variables specific to the particular angel hair pasta brand, thickness and microwave impact required cooking times. As such, microwaving intervals of 30 seconds to 2 minutes provide the proper framework for cooking times, with adjustments made during subsequent intervals based on:
- How dried and fine noodles are initially
- Pasta thickness
- Preferred level of “bite” or resistance
- Microwave’s wattage
- Pasta’s visual doneness and taste after each interval
With careful monitoring and adjustment during initial microwaving, precise cooking times can be fine-tuned for consistent, restaurant-quality results every time.
Tips for Success
Several techniques ensure angel hair pasta cooked in the microwave achieves the perfectly al dente texture and flavor that pairs beautifully with sauce:
- Start with short intervals – Initially microwaving pasta in intervals of 30 seconds allows for checking consistency and adjusting future times accordingly. Increase in 15-second increments for finer-tuning.
- Stir frequently – Thoroughly stir pasta after every microwaving interval to ensure even cooking and exposure to heat. Unmoved noodles can become dry or crunchy.
- Add water if pasta becomes dry – If angel hair noodles appear stiff or brittle during cooking, immediately remove from microwave and stir in 1 tablespoon of water at a time. Resume microwaving.
- Let stand after removing from microwave – Covering the hot pasta bowl and allowing it to stand for 1 to 2 minutes after microwaving helps noodles achieve their ideal al dente texture and evenly distribute absorbed water.
- Toss with sauce immediately after standing – To maximize sauce absorption and ensure even flavor distribution, toss hot angel hair pasta thoroughly with sauce within seconds of standing time.
- Check visually and taste periodically – During microwave intervals and subsequent standing time, examine angel hair pasta for visual cues of doneness and taste test noodles to determine precise moment al dente texture is achieved. Remove from heat promptly at that point.
- Reduce final power level – For the last 15 to 30 seconds of microwave cooking, reduce power level to 50-70% to gently finish cooking pasta and prevent noodles from overcooking or becoming mushy during standing time.
In summary, techniques focused on frequent stirring, ease of adjustment and prompt removal from heat at the ideal moment ensure success when microwaving angel hair pasta for consistently perfect texture and flavor―results similar to those achieved from boiling in a pot of water.
Suitable Sauces
Certain types of pasta sauce are especially well-suited to the delicate texture and higher surface area of angel hair pasta cooked in the microwave:
- Marinara sauce – Light yet flavorful marinara clings perfectly to the nooks and crannies of microwaved angel hair’s spiral shape. Its finely minced garlic and fresh herbs beautifully complement the dish’s speedy preparation.
- Olive oil and garlic sauce – The simplicity of just olive oil, minced garlic and grated Parmesan transforms under the light yet rich sauce absorptive surface of microwaved angel hair. Toss in chopped Italian parsley for color.
- Lemon butter sauce– The acidity and richness of a lemon butter sauce perfectly balances the delicate texture of microwaved angel hair by coating each spiral strand thoroughly. Throw in chopped parsley or basil leaves for a pop of color and herbal freshness.
- Pesto sauce- The freshly ground herbs and pine nuts in pesto beautifully cling to the higher surface area of angel hair cooked in the microwave, imparting an intense herbal essence with each bite. Shaved Parmesan cheese amplifies the savoriness of this satisfying yet simple pasta.
- Vodka sauce – An assertive yet creamy vodka sauce infused with minced shallot and a splash of heavy cream elevates the silken texture of angel hair pasta cooked in the microwave. The higher sauce absorption results in each strand tasting mouthwateringly rich.
However, bulkier or heavier sauces may provide less ideal results:
- Meat sauce – The heavier meat and thickened tomato base of traditional meat sauce can weigh down and overwhelm the delicate texture of microwaved angel hair. Extra browning and a light hand ensure the sauce complements rather than dominates the pasta.
- Alfredo sauce- While the creaminess of traditional Alfredo beautifully coats microwaved angel hair, the sauce’s richness can mask the delicate flavor and texture of the pasta. A smooth, finely blended sauce paired with browned Parmesan crisp ensures balance.
- Carbonara- The fussier technique and thicker yet eggy consistency of classic carbonara can result in a heavy, clumping mismatch with angel hair cooked in the microwave. A light hand, smaller yolks and extra pasta water help the sauce thread through delicate pasta strands.
In summary, while simpler sauces based around light olive oil, fresh herbs and citrus perfectly complement the texture and flavor achieved when cooking angel hair pasta in the microwave, adjustments to heavier or more complex preparations enable them to also pair well-providing a wider variety of options for quick yet satisfying meals.
By following simple microwave cooking techniques customized for angel hair pasta’s unique qualities, home cooks achieve results sufficiently similar to traditional boiling-delicate yet flavorful pasta perfectly matched with the simplest or most complex sauce preparations. When speed takes priority over perfection in the kitchen, microwaving angel hair proves itself an efficient alternative that still delivers delicious, satisfying meals through straightforward adjustments that maximize texture and flavor.
FAQs
1. Can you cook spaghetti in the microwave? If so, what adjustments are needed?
Yes! Spaghetti requires 50% more water and cook time. Remove from heat 30 seconds before desired doneness and let stand, covered. Toss with sauce immediately after for al dente texture.
2. Can thinner pasta like linguine or fettuccine be microwaved?
Yes, with more careful monitoring and possibly less water. They require nearly double angel hair’s cook time due to thickness. Frequent stirring and testing ensures perfect doneness.
3. What about thicker pasta – can mostaccioli or rotelle be microwaved?
With great difficultly. These shapes trap steam, Cooking in 2 minute intervals and removing from heat slightly underdone allows them to finish cooking when standing. Toss with sauce immediately.
4. Will cooking pasta in the microwave compromise its texture?
No, when monitored carefully throughout the cooking process and removed from heat slightly before desired doneness. Letting pasta stand properly after microwaving ensures it achieves a satisfyingly chewy yet tender texture.
5. Is it possible to microwave entire pasta meals with sauce and other ingredients?
No, microwaving premade pasta dishes risks creating unevenly cooked spots and soggy textures. Sauce ingredients like meat and veggies are best cooked separately then combined with properly microwaved pasta.
