My daughter and her friends eat cold pasta during swim meets. When I make it ahead, I've never rinsed it. I just put it in the fridge in the colander to cool. Then, I put it in a zip loc bag with some olive oil or it will stick badly. I've never noticed a change in texture. If you are going to reheat it, I'd undercook it.
Shouldn't change it too much. If you've ever had a pasta salad after a couple of days, that's what the pasta should taste like, texturally. What are you doing with it? I know some restaurants will par-cook pasta in order to save time, and then when orders come through will just cook it for the last couple minutes. Pasta can be pretty forgiving up to the point of overcooking it, and then there's no returning.
Even dried pasta can be ruined if you don't handle it properly. What you will get is gummy noodles that don't have the al dente bite. Unless they are filled shapes Italians will have enjoy their pasta with minimal condiments.
3 Comments