How to Cook Penne Pasta in the Microwave

Purists might insist that boiling in salt water is the only way to cook pasta, but the microwave holds its own when it comes to achieving perfectly al dente noodles. Not only is the microwave a faster way to cook pasta than boiling water on the stove, but it’s also more convenient and saves precious time in the kitchen.

This recipe is perfect for medium-sized pasta shapes such as penne, rotini or fusilli, farfalle, gamelli, shells, or ziti.

With the Anyday dish, you can cook al dente pasta every time without having to constantly watch a pot over the stovetop. While we love our vented lid for many reasons, we don’t recommend using it when cooking pasta in the microwave. The lid traps so much heat and steam that the starchy water can easily boil over, which is why we recommend cooking pasta uncovered. Still, getting spillover? Try using less water or lower your power level until you get it right!

All of Anyday’s recipes are tested (and retested!) in many different microwaves and home kitchens to make sure they work — and work well. Unless specified otherwise, all recipes should be cooked at full power.