Pasta

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Problem #4: Pasta That's Just a Little Too Al Dente
How to solve it: Those of us who live in fear of Mushy Pasta Syndrome have, on occasion, veered too far in the opposite direction. And while overly firm penne is probably worse than supersoft, there's a way to fix it. If the pasta is for a salad and you're not planning to eat it right away, don't bother doing anything but dressing it as usual, because it will soften as it sits in the fridge for a few hours or a day. If the pasta is for dinner tonight, you'll want to re-cook it. Do this by transferring the drained noodles to a skillet (if you've already mixed them with sauce, try to lift or scoop them out as best you can, using tongs or a slotted spoon), and covering with hot water. Simmer for about 5 minutes or until they're as you like them.