Two Kitchen Questions

the pasta is overcooked.

pasta should be al dente.
even after taking the pot off the stove, it will still continue to cook.

Never rinse the pasta with water after. It will wash away the starches and then the pasta sauces will not stick to it, nicely.
I saw this on a cooking show. I believe, Mario Batali.

You need to rinse the pasta with cool water or toss with a little sauce or olive oil after draining.

In the microwave, spray or wipe down with vinegar and let sit overnight. Wipe with clean cloth in morning.

can't help you on the pasta but my son burned mac and cheese in our microwave-even a yellow smoke came out of the microwave when he opened it!!. and it stunk for days. i used 2 fresh lemons and squeezed them into a glass bowl and added about a cup or so of vinegar. microwaved that for about 5 minutes and have never had the smell return!!!

Pasta question first. It sounds like you may be over cooking the pasta. I put olive oil and salt in the water and wait until it is boiling--then add the pasta. I could it until it is evenly colored--but just a tad crisp--not a lot---then I rinse in COLD water (that stops it from cooking any more), and shake it good to get the rest of the water drained off of it.

Anything with a bad smell--I use baking soda--it absorbs odors. And that microwave popcorn is the worst! Just put a bowl in the microwave when you are not using it--no need to cook it or anything like that.

Also, you could try leaving some charcoal briquetts in the microwave for a while. I've heard they absorb odors.

For the pasta, I leave a little bit of pasta water in the pasta when I drain it. It keeps it from sticking.

For the micro smell, put a bowl of baking soda in the micro and close the door. Leave it all day. Should take the smell out. It works with mine when I cook bacon in it.

I completely second S.H.'s response. I usually toss with a little olive oil after I take it off the heat as well.

Not sure about the microwave, but I have also had problems with sticky pasta. I do one of three things depending on what I'm using it for. If I want to keep it plain I just toss it with some olive oil immediately after I drain it. If we are having a simple tomato sauce or something like that I'll just toss the pasta with a little bit of sauce right after I drain it. Sometimes I'm making a sauce that I'm serving the pasta with and then it just goes right from the pot into the sauce. Either way I don't have a problem with it sticking together anymore.

Add salt and olive oil to the water when boiling the pasta-drain-and if needed, drizzle with a little more olive oil over the pasta and toss.

The microwave popcorn aroma will probably dissipate over time-and it probably won't affect anything else you cook.

I have watched Rachael Ray maybe twice in my life, but I got this tip from her show. After the pasta is drained, she takes some liquid from her sauce (2-3 ladelfuls?) and mixes it in. This way you don't remove the starches or water down the pasta.

if you are using more than one sauce or no sauce, i would suggest the olive oil drizzle after draining.

I'm hungry for home made spaghetti now!!

Over cooked pasta is sticky.
Pasta should have a slight crunch to it. Al dente. Pasta should have a sauce on it as well. Italians mix the sauce in and don't just plonk it on top. That will disguise any stickiness you get!

Sorry can't help with the microwave as I don't have one.

R.

The pasta is not overcooked. Pasta is naturally starchy - it IS a starch! All that starch is the glue that makes it stick together. You have to rinse the starch off of it after you cook it. Drain and rinse. Rinse in hot water so you dont bring the temperature of it down. If you think you've overcooked it, rinse in cold water to stop it from cooking anymore. You can keep cooked pasta in the fridge for days if submerged in clean water. That's what they do in restaraunts.

Pasta - make sure you stir it a few times while it's cooking. After you drain it, add some sauce or butter.

Microwave - I would think lemon would have helped. You may want to try putting a small bowl of baking soda in the micro overnight, but if the smell is in the vents, that may not help.

Have you tried whole grain pasta? Since it isn't as starchy it does not get as sticky. Another major benefit is that has more nutrients- including protein. It is all I buy anymore since the price has now dropped down to the same price as the white pasta.

I feel for you on the microwave issue. My daughter burnt, I mean BURNT popcorn in our microwave to the point of filling the house with smoke. I tried every single one of the remedies listed here and after 6 weeks I donated it.

I have heard you can take a bowl of water with lemons squeezed into it and cook it about 45 seconds. I would do that then leave the door open for awhile to air out. You might even spray lemon juice in the microwave directly, let it sit, wipe it out. You can try white vinegar too.

maybe you are cooking the pasta too long? try to boil the water first before you put the pasta in. put it in and wait about 7-10 mins, keep checking the pasta to see when it is soft. foodnetwork chefs say not to use olive oil but other people say yes to use it. I always use a bit, teaspoon or so.

I agree the pasta sounds overdone. Cook per "al dente" (to the tooth) directions. I come from an Italian family and we add salt only to the water. Don't rinse it and you won't need to use olive oil either.

As for the smell, when my dog was skunked (GAG!) I microwaved a flat plate of coffee (ground--from the can). About 1/2 cup. Probably worth a try.

For the pasta I know if I over cook mine it's very sticky but a little sticky is ok. I don't cool mine more than 10 mins usally if that.

Updated

For the pasta I know if I over cook mine it's very sticky but a little sticky is ok. I don't cool mine more than 10 mins usally if that.