Bowtie pasta is an Italian pasta in the shape of a bowtie. It is typically wider than spaghetti but not as wide as fusilli. When cooked, it is firm to the bite with a slight crispness around the edges but chewy when eaten.

Bowties are popular among home cooks because they are easy to make and cook quickly—in about 10 minutes. The pasta can be cooked in a pot or boiled in a pan, but this method is time-consuming and laborious because the boiling water must be constantly stirred to keep the pasta from sticking together. A quicker alternative is to cook bowties in a microwave, which can take as little as three minutes.

Steps to cook bowtie pasta in the microwave

1. Boil pasta in a pot with enough water to cover it for five minutes, until the pasta is cooked and soft enough to eat.
2. Drain water and add bowties into a deep microwavable dish.
3. Pour in cold water and leave 1/4 inch between each noodle or they will stick together.
4. Microwave the dish for 50 seconds, take it out and stir the pasta around. Put it back in for 30 second intervals until cooked to your satisfaction.
5. Add salt and sauce if desired and serve warm!
6. Enjoy your bowtie pasta that was cooked in a microwave!

Benefits of cooking bowtie pasta

-Cooks in about five minutes, instead of the 20 minutes it takes to boil.

-We all know that microwaves can be used for cooking, but few people think of using them for pasta. Try this idea and you’ll save time and effort!

-Bowties are an easy way to change classic spaghetti into something new.

-Shapes like bowties are perfect for holding sauces! Add your favorite marinara sauce to this dish, and it’ll be all the better.

-Bowties are a shortcut for those who want to make pasta quickly. With only one pot to clean, you’ll save time on washing up too.

Tips on cooking bowtie pasta in the microwave

-Microwaves vary in power, so cooking times must be adjusted accordingly. Make sure to cook until noodles are tender and cooked through.

-It is often recommended that you set the microwave on 50% power, but I’ve found it works either way; full power for 70 seconds worked well, as did 50% power for 90 seconds.

-If the noodle is still undercooked, wet a paper towel and put it on top of the pasta. Cook for another 30 seconds and check again.

-The water you add to the pasta does not need to be boiling; cold tap water will suffice. If you want less starch in your sauce (so that it does not thicken as much), use colder water.

-Do not leave the dish uncovered, or it will boil over and create a mess. If you don’t have a lid for your microwave safe dish, try using a clean washcloth to cover it.

-Make sure that noodles are separated, so they do not stick together!

-If you are reheating cooked bowties, you only need to cook them for 30 seconds before stirring and putting them back in for another 30 seconds.

-The texture of this pasta is slightly different from boiled noodles because it’s not as chewy or firm. The dish should be close to al dente but still soft enough to eat. It should no longer be crunchy or hard.

-If you want a slightly softer dish, put it back in for another 30 seconds after stirring at 50 seconds. This will cook the pasta a bit more and make it less al dente.

-Adding oil to this dish may prevent some sauce from sticking since there is already some on the pasta. If you want to avoid this, cook the bowties without oil.

This dish is best served warm or hot; leftover pasta can be eaten cold or reheated, but it will become sticky and may lose its texture. Bowties are sometimes called farfalle, which means “small butterflies” in Italian! You may also like to read the Smart Pasta Maker review and tips on how to make pasta in the microwave.