<div><p></p><p>Follow these simple tips for the perfect al dente pasta - every time. It's easy, as long as you follow these steps and avoid the one thing you should never do!</p><p>It might seem like a simple dish, but truly tasty pasta requires attention to detail. Once you've got these steps down pat, you'll never have soggy spaghetti again!</p><p><strong>1. DON'T add oil.</strong></p><p>Never put oil in the water or on your pasta. You'll end up with greasy pasty and sauce that slips off the noodles/.</p><div><figure><a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/images/2015/09/20150916-pasta-water-2.jpg" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20150916-pasta-water-2.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20150916-pasta-water-2_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20150916-pasta-water-2_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20150916-pasta-water-2_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20150916-pasta-water-2_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20150916-pasta-water-2_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20150916-pasta-water-2_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20150916-pasta-water-2_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20150916-pasta-water-2_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20150916-pasta-water-2_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20150916-pasta-water-2_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/images/2015/09/20150916-pasta-water-2.jpg" target="_blank">Serious Eats</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><strong>2. Use enough water.</strong></p><p>There should always be enough water to balance the heat once you've added pasta. A good rule of thumb is to use three liters of water for every 250 grams of pasta.</p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p><strong>3. Water should taste like tears</strong></p><p>Really. Your water should be well salted in order to flavor the pasta. Three liters of water should get a minimum of 1 tablespoon of salt.</p><div><figure><a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/images/2016/02/20160209-amatriciana-pasta-vicky-wasik-1.jpg" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160209-amatriciana-pasta-vicky-wasik-1.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160209-amatriciana-pasta-vicky-wasik-1_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160209-amatriciana-pasta-vicky-wasik-1_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160209-amatriciana-pasta-vicky-wasik-1_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160209-amatriciana-pasta-vicky-wasik-1_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160209-amatriciana-pasta-vicky-wasik-1_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160209-amatriciana-pasta-vicky-wasik-1_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160209-amatriciana-pasta-vicky-wasik-1_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160209-amatriciana-pasta-vicky-wasik-1_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160209-amatriciana-pasta-vicky-wasik-1_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160209-amatriciana-pasta-vicky-wasik-1_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/images/2016/02/20160209-amatriciana-pasta-vicky-wasik-1.jpg" target="_blank">Serious Eats</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><strong>4</strong>. <strong>Rapid-boil the water first</strong></p><p>Bring the pot of water to a rapid boil before adding pasta for a properly cooked noodle every time.</p><p><strong>5. Stir, stir, stir</strong></p><p>As soon as you put the pasta in, stir it to prevent from sticking together, the bottom of the pot or on the sides. . Stir occasionally during the cooking process. </p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p><strong>6. Read the instructions</strong></p><p>Each noodle has a recommended cooking time on the package. Follow the directions, but test your noodle for doneness about 2 minutes before the cooking time ends.</p><p>'Al dente' noodles are tender, but firm to the tooth.</p><p>If you are cooking your pasta in a sauce after, you can remove it from the water slightly before the al dente stage.</p><div><figure><a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/images/2016/02/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-2.jpg" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-2.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-2_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-2_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-2_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-2_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-2_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-2_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-2_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-2_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-2_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-2_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/images/2016/02/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-2.jpg" target="_blank">Serious Eats</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><strong>7. Save some cooking water</strong></p><p>Before you drain reserve about a cup of water for your sauce.</p><p><strong>8. Drain, don't dry.</strong></p><p>Drain the water from your pasta, but don't allow it to sit and dry out. The noodles will stick together as the starches firm up.</p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p><strong>9</strong>. <strong>Add pasta to sauce</strong></p><p>Your sauce should be prepared before you cook the noodles. Keep the sauce warm in a large sauce pan and blend the noodles in immediately after they've been drained.</p><div><figure><a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/images/2016/02/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-3.jpg" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-3.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-3_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-3_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-3_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-3_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-3_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-3_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-3_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-3_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-3_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-3_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/images/2016/02/20160218-finishin-pasta-sauce-3.jpg" target="_blank">Serious Eats</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><strong>10. Add pasta water</strong></p><p>Adding just a little water when you add the noodles helps the sauce to stick better. The starch in the water will also help to bring a split sauce back together.</p><p><strong>Final advice:</strong> Always remember: The noodles are the last thing you should prepare. Every other element of your meal should be ready to go before you drop your noodles into water.</p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p></div>
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