How To Cook Ravioli

Filled and finished ravioli lying in a row on parchment paper.

Ever wondered how they cook the perfect ravioli in Italy? Here are all the secrets on How To Cook Ravioli (Frozen and Fresh) so you can do it at home the next-time you make homemade ravioli, or get some from the grocery store!

Prep Time10

Cook Time4

Total Time14

Course: Main Course, Pasta, Side Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: cooking fresh ravioli, cooking frozen ravioli, how to cook frozen ravioli

Servings: servings

Author: Elena Davis

Equipment

Ingredients

4 quarts water
2 tablespoons salt
1 pound pasta

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Frozen Ravioli

Start with a large pot of cold, heavily salted water. Hot water from the tap often contains added minerals that can damage pots and alter taste. Bring the water to a full boil, or rolling boil, before adding the ravioli.
Gently stir occasionally with the proper utensil to keep the pasta from sticking.
As soon as the ravioli float to the top of the water- taste test the ravioli to make sure they are “al dente” before draining. (Cooking time should be about 5-6 minutes)
Save a scoop or a bit of pasta water. Another Italian secret! This helps thicken and bind the pasta and sauce of choice.
Remove ravioli with a slotted spoon and add to a thin layer of sauce (add more on top), and serve immediately.

Fresh Ravioli

Start with a large pot of cold, heavily salted water. Hot water from the tap often contains added minerals that can damage pots and alter taste. Bring the water to a full boil, or rolling boil, before adding the ravioli.
Gently stir occasionally with the proper utensil to keep the pasta from sticking.
As soon as the ravioli float to the top of the water- taste test the ravioli to make sure they are “al dente” before draining (cooking time should be about 3-4 minutes)
Save a scoop or a bit of pasta water. Another Italian secret! This helps thicken and bind the pasta and sauce of choice.
Remove ravioli with a slotted spoon and add to a thin layer of sauce (add more on top), and serve immediately.

Notes

Stir Gently. The more vigorously you stir the delicate pasta the easier it will break.
Don't Break The Ravioli Apart. When cooking frozen ravioli do not break them apart if they are frozen and stuck together; they will naturally come apart during cooking.
Use a Timer. Make sure to set a timer to test the ravioli.; sometimes they start floating before they are actually finished! They might still need a couple of minutes.
Use Cold Water. Hot water can alter the taste of the ravioli.

Nutrition