Pasta is the perfect go-to dinner option, whether it’s just for you, your family or for a large gathering. Pasta is extremely easy to make and delicious too.
Cooking pasta is quite easy on the stovetop, but if you’re on the lookout for an easier and quicker option, then nothing can beat cooking pasta in your Ninja Foodi.
Read on to learn how to cook the perfect pasta in your Ninja Foodi.
JUMP TO:
Benefits Of Cooking Pasta In A Ninja Foodi
Not only is cooking pasta in your Ninja Foodi easy and quick, but done properly, you can get perfectly cooked pasta every time with minimal effort on your part.
The best thing about cooking pasta in the Ninja Foodi is that you don’t have to hang around the stovetop waiting for the water to boil, stirring the pasta or checking if the pasta is done.
Also, there is no chance of the water boiling over the pot or the tomato sauce splattering all over the stovetop, making a mess.
When you make pasta in a Ninja Foodi, you can simply put in the pasta, go about your other jobs and when you return, you’ll have a pot of perfectly cooked delicious pasta ready to eat.
What Type Of Pasta Can You Make In The Ninja Foodi
The thing about cooking pasta in Ninja Foodi is that you can cook almost any type of pasta. You can make all shapes of pasta, whether small, medium or long and they will all be the perfect texture.
You can make shorter types of pasta like penne, elbow macaroni, farfalle, shells or rotini or longer types including spaghetti, angel hair or linguine. It is also possible to make egg noodles in Ninja Foodi.
How To Cook Pasta In Ninja Foodi
Instructions
Below are the step-by-step instructions that you can follow to make perfectly cooked pasta in your Ninja Foodie:
- Pour water into the pot of your Ninja Foodi.
- Then to this, add the dry pasta of your choice and add salt.
- Make sure that the pasta is spread evenly in the pot and that all the pasta is submerged under the water.
- Give the contents a good stir.
- Secure the lid of the cooker and turn the nozzle to “seal.”
- Cook the pasta for the recommended time.
- Then turn the nozzle of the cooker to “vent” and quick-release the pressure.
- Drain the excess water and serve the pasta with your favourite sauce and choice of protein.
Serving Tip:
You can also pour your favourite pasta sauce into the pot with your cooked pasta and then stir it well to coat it. Then, top the pasta with some mozzarella cheese.
Close the Ninja Foodi’s air crisping lid, and then, using the “air crisp” setting of the Foodi, crisp the pasta at around 400°F for 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted and then serve.
Tips To Make the Perfect Ninja Foodi Pasta
Calculate The Pasta Cook Time
For Al Dente Pasta
To cook perfect pasta in the Ninja Foodi, it is essential to calculate the cooking time perfectly. Divide the pasta cooking time that is recommended on the box by 2 and then minus 2 from that. Pressure-cook the pasta for this amount of time.
For instance, if the recommended time on the box is 12 minutes, then the cooking time will be;
12 divided by 2 = 6
6 minus 2 = 4 minutes.
It means that you must pressure cook the pasta for 4 minutes.
For Firmer Or Softer Pasta
If you want the pasta to be firmer or softer, then you must adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Once you find out the cooking time of the pasta, using the above formula, for firmer pasta with more bite, reduce 1 minute from the cooking time, i.e., you should cook the pasta for 3 minutes.
And, if you want the pasta to be a little soft, then add a minute to the cooking time, which means that you must cook it for 5 minutes.
Know Your Pasta
Some types of pasta are better for pressure cooking in the Ninja Foodi compared to others. It is better to use the shorter types of pasta such as penne, elbow macaroni, farfalle, shells or rotini.
Longer pasta types like spaghetti, fettuccine, angel hair, vermicelli and linguine tend to clump and stick together.
You can prevent the longer pasta from sticking to one another by crisscrossing the pasta when adding it to the pot. Stacking the pasta on top of one another will cause it to stick together and crisscrossing the pasta prevents it from sticking together.
It is a good idea to break the long pasta in half and then place around 10 pieces of pasta in the pot. Then, place the next 10 pieces of pasta in a crisscross fashion. Continue in this way until you have added all the pasta.
Adding 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil or butter to the pot will also help to prevent the pasta from clumping together. And, after releasing the pressure, stir the pasta gently. If needed, separate the individual pasta strands using a fork.
Amount Of Water
Whether you’re just cooking a single serving of pasta or the entire box, make sure to use just sufficient liquid (water or broth) to cover the pasta.
However, make sure to follow the minimum liquid requirements of the Ninja Foodi. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it through a colander or remove the extra liquid with a ladle.
Add Salt To The Water
To make your pasta more flavourful, salt the water. This helps the pasta to absorb the salt and enhances the flavour.
Limit Foaming
You can reduce foaming by adding some fat, such as oil or butter, to the water and pasta. If you’re making a meat sauce, then first, sauté the chicken or ground beef in the cooking pot.
But before adding the water and pasta, remove the meat from the pot. Also, some pasta brands tend to foam more compared to others. So, try switching brands to determine which brand foams the least.
How To Cook Pasta In A Ninja Foodi: Wrapping Up
In conclusion, there’s no need to slave over your stovetop to cook your pasta under constant supervision. You can now whip up delicious pasta dishes in a jiffy in your Ninja Foodi with minimal effort and babysitting!
