How to Cook Pasta

Last updated on April 16th, 2025

Most people don’t use a specific method when cooking pasta, they’ll just chuck the pieces into a pot of boiling water and leave it to do its own thing. But if you really want to cook your pasta to a flawless al dente texture – just the way the Italians like it – follow these step-by-step instructions.

Method:

1. Fill a pot with a litre of water per 100g serving of pasta, and bring to boil.
2. Add one teaspoon salt per litre of water.
3. When the water is boiling rapidly, add the pasta and stir.
4. Stir occasionally to keep pasta pieces or spaghetti separated.
5. Fresh pasta will cook in 3-5 minutes, thin dried pasta in 6-9 minutes and thick dried pasta in 12-15 minutes.
6. Just before the cooking time is up, fish out a piece and break it in half. If you see a thin white line or dots, it’s not ready.
7. The pasta is al dente just before it gets soft, when it’s still fairly chewy.