There is nothing easier than cooking pasta in the pressure cooker. Add all your ingredients into the pot and you have lunch/dinner ready in 20 minutes.
Small pastas such as penne or rotini takes only 4 minutes to cook. . Cooking times for other pastas can vary based on size of pasta ( linguine, spaghetti) , gluten free pasta, etc.
The general guidelines are:
cook half the cooking time of package instructions
add approximately 6 cups of liquid for 16 oz. pasta
quick release valve
To cook pasta without sauce: Add pasta and 6 cups of water and some salt. Drain liquid after cooking.
To cook pasta with sauce: Add pasta, sauce (25-28oz) and approximately 2 cups of water or broth and other ingredients/spices desired. Set cooking time and quick release. No need to drain after cooking.
To cook pasta with onions, garlic, or meat: Sauté meat or onions first then add the rest of the ingredients and set cooking time.
Pressure: Due to the starchy water when cooking pasta, you will have some foam come out of the valve. You will also have foam when cooking with any milk based sauce.
Once the pasta is cooked, slowly and carefully release the valve to check for foam coming out of the valve. If so, switch to the sealing position then release pressure in short spurts by using your finger to let steam out a little at a time first before releasing remaining pressure.
Do not let your pasta sit on “keep warm” mode as it will overcook your pasta and dry out any liquid.