Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson has endorsed a pasta cooking method that could help households save on energy bills. Known as the 'Vincenzo Agnesi method' or 'passive cooking', the technique involves boiling pasta for just two minutes before turning off the hob and letting it finish cooking in the residual heat.
According to Lawson's website, the method reduces the risk of overcooking and is ideal for those cooking for large groups. The process requires bringing a pan of salted water to a boil, adding the pasta, and cooking for two minutes after the water returns to a boil. Then, the heat is turned off, the pan is covered with a tea towel and a tight-fitting lid, and the pasta is left to stand for the remaining cooking time specified on the packet.
Pasta brand Barilla claims this passive cooking method can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional boiling. Social media users have praised the technique, with one stating it has 'totally altered my life'. Lawson also advises reserving a cup of the cooking water before draining to help bind the sauce to the pasta.
