The present invention concerns a device for fast cooking food. The device has a boiler for heating a liquid, pressurizing means to pressurize the liquid and a cooking chamber fluidically connected to the boiler. The cooking chamber is provided with an inlet and an outlet for the food. The inlet and outlet is provided with a shut-off valve to selectively open and sealingly close the same inlet and/or outlet. The shut-off valve is driven for opening and/or closing by the action of the liquid pressurized by the pressurizing means.

A cooking procedure to cook pasta; the procedure comprises a water feeding step. During which a given quantity of liquid water at a temperature of at least 50 C. is fed to a container; and a vapour feeding step, during which a given quantity of water vapour is fed to the container containing a given quantity of pasta for an amount of time ranging from 7 to 40 seconds; the vapour feeding step is at least partially simultaneous with or subsequent to the water feeding step.