The Secret to Perfect Pasta: Why Italians Love Al Dente (And Why You Should Too)

Get the largest pot you have and fill it with water, using about 1 liter of water for every 100 g of pasta.

Bring the water to a boil.

Add 1 tablespoon of sea salt to the boiling water.

Add the pasta to the boiling water and stir for the first minute to prevent sticking.

Stir the pasta again after about 3 minutes while it's cooking.

Cook the pasta for a total of 10 minutes for al dente texture.

At 8 minutes, take a piece of pasta out and taste it to check for doneness.

If the pasta is too hard, continue cooking for a few more minutes.

At 10 minutes, check the pasta again; it should have a slight bite and not be mushy.

If the pasta has a little white dot in the center, it is ready to be removed from the water.

Transfer the pasta directly into the sauce to finish cooking and absorb flavors.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens