Whole Grain Pasta Cooking School: The 5 Minute Rule

Welcome to the Whole Grain Pasta Cooking School! In this space we share tips and strategies for cooking whole grain pasta in a school foodservice environment. Today’s lesson is a refresher on
The 5-Minute Rule.

The 5-Minute Rule

Keeping things simple in the back of the house is crucial in K-12. It’s why we love our Chef Bruno Wehren’s sage advice to districts and schools who par-cook their pasta: no matter what the cut or cooking platform*, just cook for 5 minutes.

Cook 5 minutes in boiling water
Drain it and chill it down as fast as possible
Drain again, making sure you remove all the water
Toss with a small amount of oil and store in an airtight container in the walk-in

Then when you’re ready to serve, reheat the pasta directly in your sauce, making sure your sauce is hot first. By the time you’re ready to serve, the pasta will be perfectly al dente.

*Note: the only exception to The 5-Minute Rule is if you’re cooking in a steamer or oven. We covered that here!

If you have a specific question about whole grain pasta cooking procedures, send us a note at [email protected]

Buon Appetito!