Chefs’ Tip #31

Here are 5 lesser-known pasta cooking tips that even confident home cooks often miss:

Skip the oil in the water
Adding oil to boiling water doesn’t prevent pasta from sticking; it simply coats the surface and can keep the sauce from clinging properly. Stir well in the first minute instead.
Finish cooking the pasta in the sauce
Drain your pasta when it’s nearly al dente, then let it finish cooking in the sauce for 1–2 minutes. The starch helps emulsify the sauce, creating a silkier, more cohesive dish.
Save more pasta water than you think you need
That cloudy water is liquid gold. The starch helps bind sauces and adjust consistency without diluting flavour. Always reserve at least a cup.
Salt the water like the sea, but not immediately
Wait until the water is fully boiling before salting. Adding salt too early can slightly increase boiling time.
The bigger the pot, the better the boil.
Cooking pasta in a larger pot with plenty of water gives it room to move, prevents clumping, and ensures even cooking, especially for long cuts like spaghetti.