[Kaderin Triste]

So what exactly is so wrong about not salting the water? Curious because I have grown up not salting the water and have aldo salted the water before, but it doesn't seem to make any noticeable difference to me?

Originally Posted by Death by Mirrors

I didn't even know there was such a thing as ranch dressing powder. Perhaps they don't sell it here, but I can still imagine the taste of your comfort pasta. My own comfort food leans more towards asian dishes, but I've always loved eating pizza outside in winter when it snows. My friends think it's a weird habit, but everyone needs a little weirdness in their life ^^

I never thought of ranch powder as being regional, but maybe. It's most commonly sold in packets in the salad dressing aisle. But when sprinkled on pasta (or sourdough toast!) with some butter, it gives a tangier flavor than premixed ranch dressing would, which I love.

[XoGizmooX]

I believe the salt thing is so your water don't overboil because pasta makes water foam up and salt water will not boil over

Hidden valley ranch has the powder form it's good shaken on potatoe chunks and oven cooked also making dips

[Kaderin Triste]

I've never had my pasta boil over though. And that's without salt.

[XoGizmooX]

Mine does because I'm a bad cook and I forget to watch it maybe I put too much water ??? Idk but I saw the salt thing on a cooking show

[Kaderin Triste]

I see the salt thing all the time (and also supposedly adding olive oil to the water to prevent pasta from sticking together), but honestly, those aren't really issues that I've had with it.

[XoGizmooX]

I've never had it stick together unless it's overcooked or like if I put plain noodles in a bowl without sauce or something (I don't combine my spaghetti noodles with sauce I pour mine on top of my plate)

[bluebird]

i thought salt was just for taste. the pasta absorbs the flavor while it boils, and the saltiness will compliment the sweet tomato sauce.

[mdom]

Yeah you have to salt the pasta... like, to season it.

[Kaderin Triste]

Idk, I don't like super salty stuff, so if my pasta is so salty that it makes difference to the resulting taste of the overall dish, it's probably too salty.

[bluebird]

my mom says adding salt helps things boil faster, and i'm like suuuuuure

[Death by Mirrors]

Mine boils over even with salt. I never add oil though, because I never had problems with it sticking together. In my personal opinion salt does affect the taste of pasta (which is why I decide for or against salt based on what sauce I plan to serve it with), but I never noticed any difference in boiling time.

[mdom]

yeah just to balance with the pasta, not to become too salty

[Death by Mirrors]

When I was a child I also loved sweet pasta. With breadcrumbs, sugar and applesauce. Haven't had that in a looong time, but now that I think of it, it was surprisingly delicious.

[mdom]

applesauce... is that an european thing?

[Espy]

I’M STILL ALIVE

holy shit this took off

Applesauce is a hella US thing if anything

[XoGizmooX]

Applesauce with pork chops