Elevate Your Italian Cooking: Tips from the Pros
More often than not, there’s something irresistible about Italian cuisine. Whether it’s the comforting embrace of pasta or the mouthwatering aroma of freshly baked pizza, Italian food has a unique way of capturing our hearts (and stomachs). However, if you’ve ever found yourself cringing at a botched pasta dish or an underwhelming pizza, you’re not alone. I sought insights from Italian chefs to uncover some essential cooking habits that can transform your Italian culinary experience. Here’s what I learned, along with recommended kitchen gear to level up your cooking.
Invest in the Proper Equipment
To craft the perfect pizza or pasta, having the right tools is key. Chef Mike Fadem, the culinary genius behind Ops in New York, emphasizes the necessity of quality kitchen gear. A kitchen scale is crucial for precision, particularly when it comes to measuring flour for dough. You’ll also need a good pan and a large mixing bowl for easy handling and assembly.
Thomas McNaughton, co-chef of Flour + Water in San Francisco, highlights the importance of a pizza stone or steel. “If you don’t have a pizza oven at home, a pizza steel is the best way to mimic the pizzeria experience,” he says. Preheating the steel ensures that your crust achieves that sought-after charring, adding flavor and texture.
Moreover, transferring your pizza onto a wire rack instead of a cutting board prevents steam from ruining your crispy crust. Air circulation is essential, allowing your pizza to maintain its perfectly baked state.
Must-Have Equipment:
- E-far Cooling Racks – $17
- The Baking Steel Pizza Stone – $129
- Viking Mixing Bowl Set – $75
- Pyrex Sculpted Glass Mixing Bowls – $27
Use a Large Pot
When boiling pasta, the size of your pot matters more than you might think. Chef Ryan Pollnow suggests filling your largest pot with a generous quantity of water—around 4 quarts for a pound of pasta. This abundance of water allows your pasta to circulate freely, preventing it from sticking together and ensuring even cooking.
There’s also an added benefit: using a larger pot helps with cooking time. Following the package instructions will yield better results when you’re working with a well-sized pot. For those seeking recommendations, Pollnow favors the Le Creuset 5.5-Quart Dutch Oven, but there are a variety of popular stockpots available that could serve you well.
Season Your Pasta Water
One of the most overlooked steps in pasta cooking is seasoning the water. According to Pollnow, salting your water is essential for imparting flavor directly into your noodles. He suggests using about ¼ cup of kosher salt for every 4 quarts of water.
While both Diamond Crystal salt and Jacobsen Salt Co.’s Disco di Sale discs eliminate the guesswork, any type of salt will suffice.
Chef Michael White of Paranza emphasizes that the salty water isn’t just for cooking; it can actually be utilized to enhance sauces. This flavorful reserve shouldn’t be tossed away; instead, incorporate some into your sauce for a delightful depth of flavor.
By adopting these expert tips and investing in the right equipment, you can elevate your Italian cooking game significantly. Each aspect—from using a large pot to salting your water—plays a substantial role in creating flavorful dishes that pay homage to the rich culinary traditions of Italy.