How to Cook Pasta in Pressure Cooker XL

There are a few foods in the world that come with very simple directions but aren’t easy to perfect. Pasta is one of those foods. But learning how to cook pasta in Pressure Cooker XL, then you’ll be set.

Learning how to cook pasta in Pressure Cooker XL is even easier than making pasta the classic, time-consuming way. Bring six quarts of water to a boil, sprinkle salt, and add pasta; bring it back to a boil and let it cook for 10-12 minutes.

Those directions are pretty simple. However, how often have you followed those directions, and the pasta didn’t seem fully cooked? The wall stick method has us wasting strands of spaghetti to see if it sticks to the wall. If it sticks, it’s done.

But that means standing in the kitchen stirring a pot of pasta for quite a while. Then there is the al dente aspect of pasta. We’ve all heard it before: pasta needs to be al dente to be perfectly cooked.

But getting pasta to that perfect state of al dente is not as easy as the directions will have you think. We want pasta that still has a bit of firmness but not too much. This means cooking pasta is not as easy as we think, especially if we want to cook it right.

Unfortunately, not all of us have the time or the patience to cook pasta to al dente perfection. But the Pressure Cooker XL may be the solution. We can learn how to cook pasta in Pressure Cooker XL to make it easier to have pasta on busy weeknights or to experience perfectly al dente pasta for the first time ever in some cases.

The Pressure Cooker XL is like an Instant Pot in that it uses high pressure, cups water, heat, and steam to cook the food inside. It is an electric pressure cooker and since pressure cooking uses three methods of cooking at once, food has a shorter cook time.

Of course, the type of pasta will make a difference in how the pasta cooks. But you can be sure that this is one of the easiest ways to make any type of pasta.

How to Cook Pasta in Pressure Cooker XL

The best way to make Instant Pot pasta or any type of pressure cooker pasta is to follow the directions on the box of pasta. Of course, we won’t be following the steps exactly. Instead, we are looking for the cooking time.

Each type of pasta has a different, though similar, cooking time. For example, elbow macaroni and whole wheat pasta have a boiling time of 7 minutes. But regular pasta takes about 11 minutes to cook.

This time, it will be more than cut in half when using Pressure Cooker XL. Luckily, there is a simple equation that people have discovered to make different types of pasta.

Take the cooking time on the box of pasta you want to cook and divide it in half, then subtract two minutes. That is the cooking time you will put on your Pressure Cooker XL. Your electric appliance will take care of the heavy lifting, so the pasta cooks in less time.

This equation works for every type of noodle and is the most straightforward aspect of this method of cooking pasta. Of course, we are already far from the traditional methods, but this is the best method for people who are short on time.

You just need to add the pasta and liquid and then figure out the correct cooking time for the type of pasta you’re cooking. However, there is a small waiting period at the end of the process that will add about 5 minutes to the cooking time.

Pressure Cooker XL Pressure Valve

Anyone who owns a pressure cooker of any type has probably battled it out with the quick release valve. For those who haven’t, a quick release valve or pressure release valve is a valve on the top of every pressure cooker that is meant to lock in the pressure and release it when the food is done cooking.

But releasing it after it has reached high pressure can be dangerous. The quick pressure release pushes steam out of the pressure cooker, which could burn you. This is why most people would go with the natural release method.

Of course, this adds time to the process, which means you won’t save much time in comparison to the directions on the box of pasta. But we already know that isn’t always enough time to cook pasta on the stove.

Plus, the pressure cooker is more about allowing you to use that time in different ways, not standing over the boiling water and stirring for 10-15 minutes. The pressure will release naturally after about five minutes.

So, just be sure to factor that extra five minutes into your cooking time. Figuring out the cooking time is easy, but learning how to cook pasta in Pressure Cooker XL also means measuring the liquid out.

Enough Liquid for Pressure Cooking Pasta

The general rule for cooking pasta the classic way is to use six quarts of water. There is also a lot of starchy water left over at the end. We use a lot of liquid at a rolling boil to help keep the pasta separated as it cooks.

But we don’t need to worry about that in a pressure cooker, even the Power Pressure Cooker XL. Instead, we just need as much liquid as the pasta will absorb to get the job done.

Luckily, there is an even easier formula for figuring out the water ratio for pressure cooker pasta than the cooking time. You will use 2 cups of water for every 8oz of pasta, no matter what type of pasta you’re cooking.

That may sound like a small amount of water, but we need to remember that steam is also part of the cooking process. This means not having to worry about a giant pot of water on the stove.

Instead, just add what is needed and set the cooking time on high pressure. The end result will be the best pasta dishes, with tender pasta that comes straight from the pressure cooker pot.

Pasta Sauce Ideas

Everyone has a personal preference for the sauce they use with pasta. Of course, they are all delicious, and there’s nothing wrong with a basic pasta sauce. But it can be hard to choose when you have things like marinara sauce, alfredo, tomato sauce, or even a cheese sauce.

Learning how to cook pasta in Pressure Cooker XL means sacrificing one pot on the stove. You will need to cook the sauce separately unless you’re making something like a ragu or soup.

Classic spaghetti sauce doesn’t take much effort; it’s mostly just warming it up with a bit of heat and then pouring it into your pasta. But a meat sauce may require a bit more effort.

Still, you saved time and energy cooking the pasta in the pressure cooker. So, the extra time needed to make the sauce is baked into the pasta cooking time. Of course, you could just enjoy plain pasta with a bit of butter and herbs.

But the couple of minutes spent over the stove won’t be too bad. The next time you decide you want pasta, try making it in your pressure cooker. You may be surprised how much easier it is from the first step to the last.

Pasta Recipes to Try

Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup | Not all pasta goes in an Italian dish. Egg noodles are perfect for chicken noodle soup.

Instant Pot Shrimp Recipes For Summer | Making pasta with shrimp in a pressure cooker, no matter the brand of pasta, is just as easy as making pasta in general.

Pressure Cooker Lasagna Recipes | Lasagna is an entirely different beast, but the pressure cooker can still get the job done.

Instant Pot Goulash Recipe With Beef | Goulash is a pasta dish that you will be adding to your recipe index and may just be the perfect pressure cooker pasta.

Instant Pot Meatballs And Pasta Recipes | You simply can’t go wrong with the best spaghetti dish around, spaghetti and meatballs.