Pasta Cooking for Beginners

Photo by amirali mirhashemian on Unsplash

Cooking pasta can be frustrating, especially when it feels like everyone but you can do it. If your pasta always turns out wrong — sticky, too hard, or overcooked — it’s time to go back to the basics and review the necessary steps so you can see where you’re going wrong. Here’s how to cook perfect pasta every single time.

  1. Take a large pot, fill it with water, and bring it to boil. You’ll need at least four quarts of water for a pound of noodles, but feel free to add more.
  2. Add a tbsp of salt in the water for great flavor.
  3. When the water starts boiling, add the pasta. Never break it; it will quickly soften up and fit into your pot.
  4. Stir it so it doesn’t stick together. Keep stirring occasionally as it cooks.
  5. Check the cooking time from the packaging but don’t blindly trust it: always taste pasta to see if it’s done.
  6. Drain, add your favorite sauce, and enjoy!