Angle hair pasta and spaghetti should take about 8-10 minutes to cook; heavier noodles such as penne can take up to 20-25 minutes. To test for doneness just scoop out one noodle and taste it. You can cook noodles a couple of minutes longer for softer pasta.

Once pasta is cooked drain it in a large colander or strainer. Immediately pour pasta back into hot pot it cooked in. Never run pasta under water, this only serves to weaken taste. In pot mix a small amount of butter and sauce in with pasta. This will keep pasta moist until it is time to serve. The sauce should be added in larger quantities at table or as you are serving.

Make sure food container can seal out air and protect food from freezer burn or collecting ice on it in order to preserve "just-cooked" tastes and textures. There are many types of food containers or wrapping available in your grocery store that are designed for freezer use.

This simple tip can easily save you time and money for just a few minutes of preparation. Enjoy!

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