Tinkyada Pasta

[ShayFL]

Everyone has said Tinkyada is the best....this forum...my celiac support group. So I bought some....the spirals with rice bran.

The package says very clearly that it holds up VERY WELL TO OVERCOOKING. And the package said to cook for 15-16 minutes in boiling water.

Well after about 10 minutes it started looking very cooked to me. So I drained it. Rinsed in cold water like they said. AND IT ALL FELL APART!!

I tasted them. They taste good. But I ended up with a pile of bits...not spirals. If I had cooked them for the 15 minutes they suggested, I would have had a mashed potato consistency.

The only thing I can think of is to cook for only 8 minutes next time. Am I missing something??

Is there a secret???????

[RiceGuy]

Hmmm...

I'm not sure how they could have fallen apart so fast. I have actually left them cooking much longer than that, due to being forced to attend to other matters, and I was surprised how well they held up. Maybe the water was boiling too rapidly? Other than the water being polluted with acid rain I don't know how it could've happened so quickly.

I always test them every few minutes anyway, to make sure they are just right.

[ShayFL]

There was A LOT of foam. Maybe I should turn the "boil" down a notch...next time.

[purple]

Hmmm...

I'm not sure how they could have fallen apart so fast. I have actually left them cooking much longer than that, due to being forced to attend to other matters, and I was surprised how well they held up. Maybe the water was boiling too rapidly? Other than the water being polluted with acid rain I don't know how it could've happened so quickly.

I always test them every few minutes anyway, to make sure they are just right.

I agree with RiceGuy...I haven't a clue. My spirals are in a pink package. I tend to cook them 16-18 minutes, then rinse them in hot water. I would blame it on how fast the water was boiling....or did you put the pasta in the water before it started to boil??? If so then they cooked too long...hmmm ...I guess like everthing else, esp. gluten-free cooking...if at first you don't suceed, try, try again. One tip: I haven't tried them frozen/heated, my daughter did and she doesn't like them that way.

[Juliebove]

I bring my salted water to a boil, then add the pasta, turn the heat down to just simmering, then set the timer for 2 minutes before the lowest suggested cooking time. I test them then by eating one. This is usually the right amount of time. Sometimes need a wee bit longer for larger shapes. I do not rinse in cold water. This works for me.

[Puddy]

I actually use that quick energy saving method they have on the front of the package. I boil them for one minute, cover, take them off the heat and let them sit in the water for 18-20 minutes. Works like a charm every time.

[celiac-mommy]

I bring my salted water to a boil, then add the pasta, turn the heat down to just simmering, then set the timer for 2 minutes before the lowest suggested cooking time. I test them then by eating one. This is usually the right amount of time. Sometimes need a wee bit longer for larger shapes. I do not rinse in cold water. This works for me.

I do the same with the bring to a boil, turn down part, but I actually check the noodles 1/2 way thru the suggested cooking time and then at 1 min increments after that. When I cook them too long, they fall apart too.

[Gaye of PA]

My teen son, who has become quite an expert in these last few months, says that yes, you probably had the boil too high, BUT more importantly, you must use the large amount of water specified on the package. In the pre-gluten-free days, I never used the huge amount of water called for with wheat pasta, but got away with it. He says you can't do that with gluten-free.

[MyMississippi]

I find the "penne" shape works best. Firmer----

[Mango04]

My teen son, who has become quite an expert in these last few months, says that yes, you probably had the boil too high, BUT more importantly, you must use the large amount of water specified on the package. In the pre-gluten-free days, I never used the huge amount of water called for with wheat pasta, but got away with it. He says you can't do that with gluten-free.

The amount of water definitely makes a difference. Make sure you use a very large pot and tons and tons of water. It helps to stir the pasta right after you add it to the water as well.

[purple]

I needed to boil some today. I used a 1 1/2 qrt stainless steel pan. Filled it 1/2 full of water. When it boiled, I put in a cup of curly noodles and a tsp of olive oil. Boiled them not to fast for 15 to 18 minutes. Then drained and rinsed them in hot water. No problem with them.

[ShayFL]

Thanks everyone. I am going to try the boil for 2 minutes and let sit turned off for (whatever amount of time they recommend) next time. I just bought fusili. Will see!!

[*lee-lee*]

i cooked some Tinkyada for the first time last night. it was about 1/2 lb of fettuccine and i used a huge pot with a ton of water. i followed the directions on the front of the package - boiled it for 2 minutes, removed it from the heat and let it sit for about 16 minutes.

i think i could have gotten away with only 13 or 14 minutes because it was a bit mushy but it still came out very good and my boyfriend said he liked it better than his regular all-wheat pasta. Success!

[ShayFL]

See I think it needs less cooking than they say and that for a lot of people it doesnt hold up to "over cooking".

I dont eat a lot of pasta and right now I am on a grain free trial for a few weeks. But my next venture will be to try what I just heard. 2 minute boil and then sit for 13-14 minutes....checking OFTEN.

[Takala]

My teen son, who has become quite an expert in these last few months, says that yes, you probably had the boil too high, BUT more importantly, you must use the large amount of water specified on the package. In the pre-gluten-free days, I never used the huge amount of water called for with wheat pasta, but got away with it. He says you can't do that with gluten-free.

And this is correct. Large amount of water, and SALT it, and add a dash of olive oil to it. Don't boil the noodles so long, and then rinse. I swear those must be high altititude directions for the noodles because they never take that long to boil in real life.

[JNBunnie1]

And this is correct. Large amount of water, and SALT it, and add a dash of olive oil to it. Don't boil the noodles so long, and then rinse. I swear those must be high altititude directions for the noodles because they never take that long to boil in real life.

see, you guys are all talking about olive oil, and I tried that once, totally screwed up my pasta. Guess you just gotta do what works for ya!