With the arrival of the cold season and the approach of the holidays, fresh pasta is once again appearing on Italian tables. But preparing it — and even simply cooking it, even if it’s already ready — is far from straightforward. Today, we’re tackling one of the classic issues encountered when cooking fresh pasta: why fresh pasta breaks during cooking and how to prevent it.
Let’s start by saying that the problem of breaking while cooking mainly affects filled pasta. It rarely happens with egg-based, unfilled pasta, including tagliatelle, which, if well made and shaped into nests, are unlikely to break. The issue occurs more frequently with ravioli, tortelli, cappelletti, and similar stuffed pasta.
THE REASONS WHY FRESH PASTA BREAKS:
1. The problem mainly lies in the filling. A filling that is too wet can moisten the pasta, which will then break during cooking. That’s why, when preparing stuffed pasta like ravioli with ricotta or spinach, we need to drain the filling very carefully to avoid overly wetting the dough.
2. It’s also important to remember that letting the dough rest is essential. During the resting time, a gluten network forms, which ensures that the pasta holds together well during cooking.
3. Air bubbles inside stuffed pasta can also cause problems during cooking. When making ravioli, we need to carefully seal the pasta to avoid leaving air pockets around the filling.
4. Cooking is another crucial factor in preventing fresh pasta from breaking. It should be cooked in a large pot with plenty of water or broth, and in the case of ravioli, added a few at a time. Additionally, if you’re using frozen pasta, remember to put it into boiling water or broth directly from the freezer.
If you don’t want to deal with all these challenges and want to serve a special plate of perfectly cooked fresh pasta, all you have to do is try the specialties from Pasta Fresca Rossi, from tortellini to ravioli and all other egg pasta creations!