How to cook pasta the right way - Italian style

Use a medium-sized pot (2.5 liters) for cooking pasta.

Add 2.5 liters of water to the pot.

Add 5 teaspoons of cooking salt to the water.

Bring the water to a boil.

Once boiling, add the pasta and stir immediately for about 30 seconds to prevent sticking.

Stir the pasta every minute to ensure it doesn't stick together.

Cook dried pasta for about 8 to 12 minutes until al dente, checking for doneness by tasting.

When pasta is al dente, remove it from the pot using a skimmer or tongs, or lift the strainer if using a pasta pot.

Set aside about 2 cups of pasta water before straining the pasta.

Add the pasta directly to the sauce, not the other way around, to ensure even coating.

Stir the pasta into the sauce to coat evenly.

Add about two ladles (just under half a cup) of reserved pasta water to the sauce to help emulsify it.

Stir the pasta and sauce together for up to two minutes to achieve a silky finish.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens