The world of pasta cooking may seem simple on the surface, but it gets more complex the deeper you dive into it. Not only are there two different kinds of pasta you can make—homemade and store-bought—but the cooking process itself has its own few quirks as well. If you’re looking to improve your pasta game ever so slightly, here are some tips to look out for.
The Water Ratio
For each pound of pasta you cook, a good rule of thumb is to boil about four to six liters of water. This will enable the pasta to cook properly without sticking to itself or the pot.
Adding Salt
You may have heard that it’s good to add salt to pasta water, and this isn’t a myth. In fact, go all out with the salt. Add enough salt to the water that it should taste somewhat like seawater. This will season the pasta internally, adding to its intrinsic flavor profile.
Cooking it Right
Finally, the last step when it comes to cooking pasta is making sure it’s cooked well enough. Traditionally, people like to cook pasta al dente, but you’re more than allowed to cook it however you want. The important thing is to keep checking on it, and tasting it to see if it’s the way you want it.
