How do you go about cooking pasta in a slow cooker?

Answer by  Tealparadise (245)

I love the slow-cooker too, but pasta is a hazardous item. It's nearly impossible to keep it from going mushy over a long time. I suggest using potatoes as your starch. If you really must have pasta, try Crockpot 365 recipes, hers are tried and true. Or make everything in the slowcooker, then boil the pasta when you get home!

Answer by  fragolide (13)

Pasta will not cook in a slow cooker. Pastas need to be cooked for approximately 10-12 minutes in water that is boiling vigorously. If the water is not boiling, the pasta will not cook properly and may end up dissolved in the water. A slow cooker will not get hot enough to properly cook pasta.

Answer by  Latin4 (11170)

I don't advise doing this. The pasta will become to soft and break up. Pasta does not take long to cook on the stove and you can control how well you want it done. You can make the sauce in the slow cooker. This would be easier to leave it alone while you are at work.

Answer by  Missalissa (75)

You really can't cook pasta all day long in the slow cooker or it will be really flabby and starchy. You should cook all the other ingredients and then add the pasta when you are home. It is best to precook the pasta and then add it just before eating.

Answer by  sunflower249 (338)

You might not be able to do it if you need to go off to work, because you normally have to add pasta only 30 minutes before the dish is done, or it will go soggy and start to break down. Make sure that there is enough liquid for the pasta to absorb, as well.

Answer by  lylo (129)

Pasta and slow cookers don't necessarily go together, but if you are determined to cook your pasta this way try adding only as much water as will be absorbed completely by the pasta to avoid a gooey sticky mess.

Answer by  gravel (10)

Fill cooker with water, add salt, when boiling add pasta, stir from time to time, once pasta is ready (taste from time to time), remove water.

Answer by  CookingSomethingGood (78)

there is no way to effectively cook pasta in a slow cooker. The only way to use pasta in slow cooker recipes is to cook and rinse the pasta before hand and add to the dish a few minutes before service.

Answer by  Latin4 (11170)

I wouldn't put the pasta in the slow cooker until you get home. If you do this before hand the pasta will breakdown and would be mushy. I'm assuming that you are at work 8 hours. I've read in slow cooker recipe books, but have never tried this on my family.

Answer by  Brianna323 (0)

I've also looked for a way to slow-cook pasta with the rest of my dish, but I've yet to find one! The one time I tried, the pasta broke down into very unappetizing, starchy mush! It ruined my entire dish and wasted $20 worth of ingredients! I don't recommend it!