A cooking device particularly useful for cooking pasta, includes: an elongated receptacle for receiving the pasta to be cooked and water to be heated for cooking the pasta, the receptacle being closed at one end and open at its opposite end; a sieve attached to the open end of the receptacle for removing the water after the pasta has been cooked therein; and a cover attached over the sieve for covering the sieve during the cooking of the pasta, and detachable therefrom to permit removing the water from the receptacle via the sieve after the pasta has been cooked. Detachment of the cover from the sieve is facilitated by inter-engaging cam surfaces effective, upon the initial rotation of the cover, to move the cover axially outwardly with respect to the sieve in order to release to the atmosphere any negative pressure generated within the receptacle by condensation of vapors or cooling of the water. Handling of the receptacle while hot is facilitated by providing the receptacle with an outer sleeve of heat-insulating material, and/or with a heat-insulating handle.