Can you cook pasta in a double boiler?

* Double boilers rely on steam: The lower pot heats water, which creates steam to cook food in the upper pot. This is ideal for delicate foods that require gentle heat, but pasta needs boiling water.

* Pasta needs a lot of water: Pasta needs plenty of room to move around and cook evenly. A double boiler is much too small and doesn't have enough water capacity for cooking pasta.

What you can do instead:

* Use a large pot of boiling water: This is the standard way to cook pasta.

* Use a pasta cooker: These specialized appliances are designed for cooking pasta, and some have built-in strainers.

Note: You can use a double boiler to heat cooked pasta in sauce, but not to cook it from raw.