I was looking through TikTok the other day and one of my favorite creators shared a new viral hack for draining pasta that involved propping the lid open with a toothpick. It honestly looked like a lot of work for a task that didn't need a new hack, and many commenters mentioned just using a colander. That reminded me of the time I saw another TikTok hack for straining pasta that actually does work, and it was a total game-changer for me.
Like most people, I spent a lot of the pandemic fascinated by influencers on TikTok. I learned a lot during that time, and some of those hacks are things I still use today. One of those was how to use a colander to drain your pasta , and if you think you already use it the right way, think again!
Social media creator, mom, and queen of hacks @athomewithshannon demonstrated this “life hack” back in 2021, and it's one of those things that she says she saw one day and it became an unconscious practice in her life. That's exactly what happened to me, and I will forever drain my pasta using this unconventional method.
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What's the Viral Pasta-Draining Hack?
When most people drain cooked pasta, they place a colander in an empty sink and dump the pot of pasta and hot water straight into the colander, then transfer the pasta back to the pot to finish the dish, adding sauce , butter , cheese or whatever else they want.
I (and apparently Shannon) use a slightly different method. We place the colander directly into the pot of boiling noodles, with the bottom going in first. To do this, you hold the colander in place by lining up the handles of the strainer with the handles of the pot and holding them together. Then, strain the water into the sink. The pasta never leaves the pot because it's stopped by the colander.
Not only does this mean you don't have to flip the pasta back into the pot, but it also helps the pasta retain some heat because it stays in the warm pot. This method will also leave about a teaspoon of starchy pasta water in the pot, so your pasta doesn't dry out as you're finishing your recipe.
Although this is my preferred method, there are a few caveats you need to know. First, you do have to be careful to hold the colander in place. If you let it go, you can pour boiling water onto your hands. Also, this method won't work with every colander and pot combination. You have to find two that are roughly the same size and have sturdy handles.
This is a pasta-draining hack that I will always use, and I call it a success. Is it something you'd try or not so much?
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