strain the pasta

Meaning

This phrase means to separate cooked pasta from the hot water it boiled in by pouring it through a colander or strainer. It is a fundamental kitchen action. While 'strain' and 'drain' are often used interchangeably in this context, 'strain' specifically emphasizes retaining the solid food (pasta) while letting the liquid pass through.

Examples

• Could you please strain the pasta and toss it with some olive oil?

  Could you please strain the pasta and toss it with some olive oil?

• Make sure to save a cup of the cooking water before you strain the pasta.

  Make sure to save a cup of the cooking water before you strain the pasta.

• I always use a large stainless steel colander to strain the pasta.

  I always use a large stainless steel colander to strain the pasta.

• Don't rinse it with cold water after you strain the pasta, or the sauce won't stick.

  Don't rinse it with cold water after you strain the pasta, or the sauce won't stick.

• He carefully held the pot lid slightly open to strain the pasta without a colander.

  He carefully held the pot lid slightly open to strain the pasta without a colander.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Filter the pasta after boiling it.

  ✓ Strain the pasta after boiling it.

  'Filter' is used for separating microscopic particles or cleaning liquids (like water or coffee), whereas 'strain' is used for separating larger solids from liquids in cooking.

• ✗ Throw the pasta water to strain the noodles.

  ✓ Strain the pasta to remove the water.

  'Throw the pasta water' is awkward and unnatural. English speakers use 'strain the pasta' to describe the entire process of separating the two.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Grab the colander from the cupboard so I can ___.

  💡 Separate the noodles from the boiling water.

  Show answer

  strain the pasta

• Be careful not to burn yourself with steam when you ___.

  💡 Pour the hot noodles and water into a colander.

  Show answer

  strain the pasta