What You Needâșwaterâșlarge potâșpastaâșsaltâștongsâșcolanderâșFollow These StepsâĄïžBoil water in a large pot
To make sure pasta doesnât stick together, use at least 4 quarts of water for every pound of noodles.Salt the water with at least a tablespoonâmore is fineâĄïžThe salty water adds flavor to the pasta.Add pasta Pour pasta into boiling water. Donât break the pasta; it will soften up within 30 seconds and fit into the pot.Stir the pasta As the pasta starts to cook, stir it well with the tongs so the noodles donât stick to each other (or the pot).Test the pasta by tasting itFollow the cooking time on the package, but always taste pasta before draining to make sure the texture is right. Pasta cooked properly should be al denteâa little chewy.Drain the pasta Drain cooked pasta well in a colander. If serving hot, add sauce right away; if youâre making a pasta salad, run noodles under cold water to stop the cooking.Now that you have the perfect technique, try these great pasta recipes:â Kid-Friendly Spaghetti Recipesâ Easy Pasta Recipesâ Quick Pasta Recipes