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Want to cook something with fresh tortellini? Learn how to cook refrigerated tortellini from Trader Joe’s, or Whole Foods, or any grocery store. Learn the basics to cook tortellini for pasta dishes and pasta salads. You can even use frozen or dried tortellini with this guide. Let’s get to making some perfectly al dente tortellini.
What you need to cook refrigerated tortellini
This guide is for cooking a 10 oz Trader Joe’s cheese tortellini package. Salt is used to season the water and olive oil, pesto, or tomato sauce is used to finish the dish. Below you’ll find details for using Trader Joe’s tortellini for pasta salad, too.
How to cook refrigerated cheese tortellini from Trader Joe’s
Step 1. Add a large pot of water to a burner on the stove. Set the temperature of the burner on high heat. Medium-high is alright, too.
But don’t set it to medium, it will take too long to boil and won’t stay hot enough to cook the Trader Joe’s tortellini to the time specified.
Add a pinch of salt to the water and bring it to a boil.
Use these tips to make Mexican tortellini pasta salad.
Step 2. Cook Trader Joe’s cheese tortellini for the LOWEST number of minutes directed, letting it boil to the lowest number indicated.
So if the packaging says 4-6 minutes, let it cook for 4 minutes, then use a spoon to take out one piece of tortellini. Transfer the one tortellini to a cutting board and cut it with the side of a fork.
It will easily cut with the back of a fork when tortellini is done.
Love pasta dishes? See how to make Italian stuffed shells with ground beef.
Is it done??
It will be very hot, but you take a bite to make sure it is fully cooked.
You want it cooked to al dente – not mushy, but not so stiff and uncooked that it tastes raw. Tortellini is cooked when it sticks to the tooth when you bite it.
If it’s not cooked, let the tortellini pasta boil on the stove for another minute, then check again.
When the pasta is cooked to your liking, strain the pasta from the water.
Note – if cooking Trader Joe’s cheese tortellini from frozen, add on 1-2 minutes.
Know what else is awesome from TJ’s?? Making gourmet pizza with their frozen pizza crust.
Step 3. Don’t rinse Trader Joe’s tortellini. Immediately add butter, pesto, or tomato sauce. If you’re using Trader Joe’s tortellini for pasta salad, immediately toss the cooked pasta with olive oil to prevent it from sticking. Set aside.
Cooking Trader Joe’s tortellini from frozen?
Did you know you can freeze Trader Joe’s tortellini right in the packaging? And then, you can cook the pasta from frozen. Look at the package for exact details, but usually, you’ll just add on 1-2 minutes to the boiling time.
Do you need to add salt to tortellini pasta water?
Although tortellini comes with a lot of flavors, I like to flavor the pasta water with a pinch of salad. But sometimes I forget. That’s life! All my dishes still turn out just fine, even when I forget.
My new obsession for pasta night is this delicious baked rigatoni.
How to use Trader Joe’s pesto tortellini dried product
If you’re cooking with Trader Joe’s dried pesto tortellini instructions, follow the directions on the packaging, but still salt the water (if desired) and follow the instructions in the recipe below on straining and adding sauce to TJ’s tortellini.
Have these on hand for making a quick pasta salad
- Save time by using a mandoline or food processor to chop pasta salad vegetables.
- Work on your home chef skills with something like my 8″ Shun chef’s knife and one of these bamboo cutting boards
- Pyrex glass mixing bowls with lids are the best large bowls for making pasta salad because you make, serve, and store them in the same bowl. Having a matching lid for mixing bowls is helpful so they can be stacked in the fridge.
- Beautiful wood serving spoons are always within arms reach in my utensil drawer. I don’t just save them for “special occasions”. Use them to make any weeknight meal feel fancy.
- Mini tongs can be handy for serving sides and salads, too.
Share your tasty Trader Joe’s pasta dish with me
Share your food photos with me @sipbitego on Instagram.
How To Cook Refrigerated Cheese Tortellini from Trader Joe's
Want to cook something with fresh tortellini? Learn how to cook refrigerated tortellini from Trader Joe’s, or Whole Foods, or any grocery store. Learn the basics to cook tortellini for pasta dishes and pasta salads. You can even use frozen or dried tortellini with this guide. Let’s get to making some perfectly al dente tortellini.
Ingredients
- 10 oz pasta cheese tortellini
- 1 tsp salt optional
- 1/2 tsp olive oil optional
- 2 cups tomato sauce optional
Instructions
Add a large pot of water to a burner on the stove. Set the temperature of the burner on high heat. Medium-high is alright, too. But don’t set it to medium, it will take too long to boil and won’t stay hot enough to cook the Trader Joe’s tortellini to the time specified. Add a pinch of salt to the water and bring it to a boil.
Cook Trader Joe’s cheese tortellini for the LOWEST number of minutes directed, letting it boil to the lowest number indicated. So if the packaging says 4-6 minutes, let it cook for 4 minutes, then use a spoon to take out one piece of tortellini. Transfer the one tortellini to a cutting board and cut it with the side of a fork. It will easily cut if it’s done. It will be very hot, but you take a bite to make sure it is fully cooked. You want it cooked to al dente. If it’s not cooked, let the tortellini pasta boil on the stove for another minute, then check again. When the pasta is cooked to your liking, strain the pasta from the water.
Don’t rinse Trader Joe’s tortellini. Immediately add butter, pesto, or tomato sauce. If you’re using Trader Joe’s tortellini for pasta salad, immediately toss the cooked pasta with olive oil to prevent it from sticking. Set aside.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Note - if cooking Trader Joe’s cheese tortellini frozen, add on 1-2 minutes.
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Interesting how to cook frozen ravioli,
Thank you