system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Why do we need to boil pasta? Why isn't it enough to soak it in water?

When I make pasta, I usually microwave it with other ingredients afterwards. Is there any reason why I should boil the pasta beforehand rather than just soak it?
gpt
You need the heat from the boiling to cook the starch/flour which is an ingredient of the pasta. Try this at home. Take some flour and mix it with cold water. do the same with boiling water. you'll notice the difference. only by cooking the pasta gets soft but still sticks together.