Reheating Spaghetti

[jourdain2]

'Afternoon everyone! Does anyone know if it is possible co cook spaghetti and then re-heat it successfully, please. I need an answer before 6 p.m..
Our Supper club meets once a month at the pub, invites a speaker and the pub puts on a main course very reasonably. Today the food has to be 'do-it-yourself' (family crisis at pub) and I'm down for Spagh. Bol. The sauce is bubbling away nicely and will reheat fine, but I'll be short of time to cook the spaghetti.
Thanks all, in advance, for any ideas. :o) x

[patsyann]

I have just done a quick request on Google. It is important to store your cooked pasta in. The fridge for as long as possible as bacteria firms easily. Then can be reheated in a microwave adding a little water so that it does not become too dry. Suggest you look the question up yourself as plenty of suggestions apart from the one I have chosen .

[jennyjoan]

not at all - if your sauce is done - that is the best - you can actually put your spaghetti (pasta) in while your visitors are there - it is just about 8-12 mins - depends on how much and how al dente.

[SirOracle]

You will be short of less than 10 mins.time to cook pasta,??

[jennyjoan]

anyway pre-cooked pasta left for hours - turns into rubber (for me anyway)

[jourdain2]

Thanks everyone. I won't be able to get into the pub's kitchens until 20 mins. before having to dish up about 8 portions of food. Other people are preparing other things, which will also need reheating, so I'm not certain to be able to get enough water heated up with even 10 mins cooking time. It all has to be served on time so the speaker can also eat and then give the talk on time. I wondered if I could short-cut, that's all. I don't even know if there is a microwave there. :(

I'll check up on google, patsyann, ta.

[dannyk13]

Reheat in the oven covered with foil.

[dannyk13]

Forgot to add, reheat on a high heat for only 10 minutes,this stops it drying out.

[Khandro]

Just pop it in a microwave oven, we do it all the time.

[jourdain2]

Oh, thank you danny - that sounds like a runner. :)

[jourdain2]

Very reassuring Khandro - I think I'll phone someone and try to find out if there is a microwave. :)

[gingejbee]

I'd cook the pasta for 2-3 mins LESS than usual, drain, chill in cold water, drain well. When ready to eat, add pasta to bubbling sauce for 2-3 mins and serve pre-mixed (like Italians do) and NOT pasta with dollop of sauce on top (like a lot of silly Brits do).

[jourdain2]

Good idea gingjbee! :)

[jennyjoan]

also if you want to cook the pasta that quickly - boil your kettle - jesus your guests's tongues wont be hanging out if you are a little late.

[jim360]

I spend quite a lot of my time basically living on reheated pasta, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue.

[LyndaB]

Instead of serving the sauce in the middle of the pasta, do it like the Italians do and mix the cooked pasta through the sauce (you can get away with much less sauce like this too). I do this regularly for hubby, who then takes it to work and reheats it when he gets there

[ummmm]

I always microwave pasta. It'll be fine. It goes clumpy when it's cold be separates again when heated.

[jourdain2]

Thanks everyone! Lots of good ideas and reassurance. Jenny-joan, there will be nearly 40 people and quite a few of us cluttering up the pub's kitchen, so that's why. I don't really want to add too much to the pub's electricity bill, they're being very kind letting us use the kitchen for free. :)

[pastafreak]

Pour boiling water over cooked pasta...heats it enough,seperates the strands.

[jourdain2]

Just back, weary, but a good evening was had by all including me - and I've been asked for my spag. bol. recipe!! In the end I part-cooked the spaghetti just before I set off to the pub (only about 200 yds.) and brought just a little water to the boil to plunge it in for a few mins. before mixing it with the sauce which was reheating at the same time. Another couple of mins simmering like that did well.

Thank you all again - facing a strange kitchen with a time limit is unnerving - took me ages to find a wooden spoon and I should have taken my spaghetti serving spoon.!