measuring spaghetti

[jabb]

How do you get the right amount of spaghetti so you don't have to end up cooking more or you've realized you have enough to for the neighborhood? I have thought about purchasing those spaghetti measuring gadgets with the graduated holes but I thought someone had a neat measuring trick to share. Thanks.

[Norma]

I weigh things. I figure 2 ounces dry per person as an entree and 1 ounce dry per person as a side. If I have big eaters I might do an extra ounce or two or three.

[lorilei]

I count each strand of spaghetti until I reach 40 strands per person...

Just kidding. I'm an "eye it up" sort of a gal. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. It's generally about an inch round for each person, though. OR you can look on the bag, figure out the TOTAL servings, and then figure out how much of the pile you should make from there. I usually make 1/2 of a 1 lb bag of spaghetti for four people. And that's usually right on. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Ohioan]

Norma, I weigh my spaghetti, too -- and I thought I was the only one who did that! I keep a postal scale in the kitchen just for that purpose, as well as for weighing out portions of grated cheese.

Actually, when I'm just cooking for myself, I can routinely grab my 2 ounces "by hand," because I've weighed it so often that I know what it should feel like. But when I have company, I go back to the scale to make sure I don't underestimate.

Phoebe

[MrsReber]

We cook it all! Nothing better than leftover spaghetti to bring to work for lunch! I always cook too much. Can't help it. I put it in the water and say "gee, that's not enough for us". And before I know it, I've used 2/3 of the package. Well, I can't just keep a little bit in the cabinet, might as well use it all! And the leftovers always get eaten http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[iqueen]

Everybody watch out...Phoebe has gone postal!

[robinf]

I'm with Mrs Reber. I always cook a whole box of pasta - spaghetti or otherwise. Between the 3 of us in the family someone eats pasta everyday! I do, however, measure out my own pasta when I put it on my plate to help with portion control.

[BernK]

I have that gadget for measuring spagetti also and I never use it, except to stir the spagetti. I just go by sight and if there is extra(there usually is) well that's for lunch the next day.

[Ohioan]

Originally posted by iqueen:
Everybody watch out...Phoebe has gone postal!

Hee hee hee hee hee! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif Better watch out, or I'll come after you with my toaster tongs!

But seriously, folks... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif I use a postal scale because it takes up less room than most of the kitchen scales I've seen, and it has a flat weighing surface that I can balance plates on -- or strands of spaghetti. Really. (Heh heh heh.)

Maniacally,
Phoebe

[Mamasue]

Yep...I am guilty of cooking way too much pasta. Like MrsReber, I just take a guess and then wind up throwing more in the pot because it just doesn't look like enough. Hehe. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif There is always enough for an army...as DH would say. Although sometimes it won't go to waste because sister will stop by unexpectedly and she will polish most of it off. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Speaking of those spaghetti measurers, I bought a handful (wooden with three different circles) for pennies one Christmas years ago and as a gag I wrapped them all up and gave them to all the men in the family to measure you know what. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif The men really got a kick out of it and you should have heard all the comments. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif *blushing* I don't dare find a graphic for that...might get kicked off the board! LOL

[This message has been edited by Mamasue (edited 10-20-2000).]

[valeriek]

I'm like Lorilea - I just kind of go by sight. If a recipe calls for 8 oz of pasta, I throw in half of a one bound box etc. I work by how much is left in the box, judging ounces by sight that way. It doesn't always work, but more times than not it does.

[ellielk]

I found a plastic gizmo with the kitchen gadgets somewhere that has holes in it for measuring spaghetti (dry, that is) for one to four servings. I never use it. I just boil up the whole package and use leftovers for lunch.