How to Cook Spaghetti Pasta like an Italian

Are you throwing pasta at your kitchen wall to check for doneness? If yes, take a look at my top ten tips on how to cook spaghetti pasta like an Italian nonna.  

Whether you are cooking homemade cavatelli or purchasing the best pasta brand available, it really is effortless to achieve the perfect bowl of pasta every time you cook it. 

Have you ever wondered how long to cook spaghetti pasta?

Or perhaps why the water needs to “taste like the sea” before you add your pasta? 

If you think the best way to test if spaghetti is done is to throw it at your kitchen wall, stop scrolling.

The cooking guidelines found on pasta packages are a great place to start. But if you want to step up your pasta game, this simple guide is for you.

Take a look at my top ten tips on achieving the ideal texture for perfect pasta, just like an Italian nonna would make.

Jump to:

• 1-Start with a large pot 
• 2-Use lots of cold water  
• 3-Add kosher salt so it “tastes like the sea”
• 4-Frequent stirring 
• 5–Avoid adding oil 
• 6-Cover the pot 
• 7-Taste for doneness 
• 8–Reserve the pasta water, aka the liquid gold
• 9- Avoid rinsing drained pasta
• 10- Toss the drained pasta quickly with the sauce
• Bonus tip: a kitchen hack
• How long to cook spaghetti?
• Serving suggestions 
• My inspiration
• Recipe

1-Start with a large pot 

To cook pasta properly, you need a large deep pot that can hold a lot of water. 

Why? A big pot of water provides plenty of space for the pasta to float about freely; this is especially true for the long variety.  

2-Use lots of cold water  

It’s not enough to have just enough water to cook pasta. You need the right amount of cold water.  To cook one pound of pasta (454 grams), bring at least 4 quarts (3.8 liters) of cold water to a rolling boil, not simmering, rolling. 

Why? Using the right amount of water ensures that it will quickly return to a rapid boil after the pasta’s addition.  Also, as the pasta is cooking, it absorbs some of the water and has enough room to expand. The large water volume also prevents the pasta from sticking together as the pasta floats freely about in the large pot. 

3-Add kosher salt so it “tastes like the sea”

Once the 4 quarts of water  (3.8 liters) come to a rolling boil, add 1 heaping tablespoon of kosher salt.  

Why? As the pasta is cooking, it will absorb some of the kosher salt from the pasta water. This helps create a perfectly seasoned plate of pasta. 

4-Frequent stirring 

As soon as you add your pasta to the boiling water, it is crucial to stir. A long handled wooden fork is ideal for this job. Although you can use any long utensil, like a wooden spoon, what is important is that you give the large pot of pasta a good stir every couple of minutes.  Stir in any direction or back and forth. Don’t forget to scrape the bottom and sides of the pot during this cooking process. 

Why? Initial and frequent stirring will prevent the pasta from sticking together and attaching to the pot’s sides or bottom. 

5–Avoid adding oil 

There is no advantage to adding oil. Contrary to popular belief, adding a little olive oil does not prevent the pasta from sticking together. Refer to previously mentioned tips to prevent pasta from sticking together. 

Why? The addition of oil prevents the sauce from clinging to the pasta. 

6-Cover the pot 

Slowly add the pasta to the pot of boiling water, stir immediately to ensure the pasta does stick together, then cover the pot. For longer shapes like spaghetti and linguine, drop them into the water and, as they soften, gently submerge. Stir gently and cover. Remove the cover immediately when the water returns to a rolling boil. 

Why? Quickly returning the water to a full boil ensures the pasta cooks evenly without being gummy or mushy. Don’t walk away from the stove during this process. 

7-Taste for doneness 

Use the estimated cooking times indicated on the packaging as a guideline for when the pasta is done.

For dry pasta, start tasting two to three minutes before the recommended cooking time. Cook dry pasta until it tastes al dente or firm to the bite. Cook fresh pasta like cavatelli and ricotta gnocchi until they float and resist slightly. This usually takes 1-2 minutes. 

Why? Tasting the pasta is the only way to test the pasta for doneness. This confirms the pasta is properly cooked. Remember, the pasta continues to cook just a little after you drain and sauce it. So the goal is to prevent overcooked pasta. 

8–Reserve the pasta water, aka the liquid gold

Before draining the pasta, remove 1-2 cups of the starchy pasta water and set it aside.  

Why? Depending on the pasta sauce, adding a small amount of starchy pasta water can help loosen the sauce and help the pasta cling to the sauce.

9- Avoid rinsing drained pasta

It would be best if you rinsed pasta only when using it in a recipe like a cold pasta salad.  

Why? Not only does rinsing cool off the pasta, but it also removes the starchy exterior, which is essential for the sauce to adhere to it. 

10- Toss the drained pasta quickly with the sauce

Transfer the drained hot pasta back into the empty cooking pot, add enough sauce and immediately toss together. Alternatively, the drained pasta can be added to the simmering sauce and tossed together. For the best-tasting pasta dish, serve immediately while still hot. 

Why? It would be best to combine the cooked pasta immediately with the sauce for the best-tasting bowl of pasta. Timing is crucial when cooking pasta. The sauce can wait for the pasta to be cooked, but the cooked pasta cannot wait for the sauce. If the drained pasta is left in the colander for even the smallest amount of time, the starchy exterior starts drying and before you know it, you have clumps of pasta. 

Bonus tip: a kitchen hack

Did you know that Italian nonnas place a wooden fork or spoon across the top of a pot of boiling water to prevent the starchy water from escaping and making a mess on the stovetop? Here’s a great article that explains the science behind this. 

How long to cook spaghetti?

Are you ready to put theory to practice?

By now, you are probably wondering how long it would take to cook spaghetti.

Cooking spaghetti is a simple process, but you now know the techniques and the important points to keep in mind to ensure you get perfect results every time. With these tips and a little patience, you are on your way to making perfectly cooked delicious spaghetti pasta.

Let’s apply some of these tips to see how long it actually takes to cook spaghetti noodles.

Here is a summary of spaghetti cooking time and plating, from start to finish.

• Fill a large pot with cold water cover and bring it to a rolling boil. To cook one pound of pasta (454 grams), bring at least 4 quarts (3.8 liters) of cold water. TIME: 14 min 30 sec
• Add 1 heaping tablespoon of Kosher salt. The spaghetti must be seasoned before adding the sauce. TIME: 10 sec
• Add the spaghetti noodles and stir. Cook until it tastes al dente or firm to the bite. Start tasting the spaghetti two minutes before the recommended cooking time on the package. TIME: 10 min
• Drain the spaghetti in a colander, then toss the pasta quickly with the warm sauce. Serve and enjoy! TIME: 2 min 30 sec
• TOTAL TIME: 27 min 10 sec

Serving suggestions 

Now that you know the best way to cook pasta, the next step is to combine it with the best pasta sauce!

For more serving suggestions, refer to this article on Cavatelli Pasta Recipes.

My inspiration

I can still hear my Nonna, “butta la pasta!” It wasn’t a question… it was a statement. 

Butta la pasta literally means throw the pasta. Naturally, in boiling water. 

We would usually hear these words three times a week -Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

It is only as an adult, looking back at my younger years, that I began to truly appreciate the importance of certain rituals of my Italian upbringing.

My nonna did not need to ring a bell to announce that it was dinner time. The minute she said those words, we all knew we had less than 5 minutes to clean up and find our place at the dinner table.   

I was delegated to inform my Nonno and dad that nonna had just “thrown the pasta” in the water.

As I got older, I got promoted to stirring the pasta while my nonna delegated my sister to round-up duties. I did, however, keep my “scolapasta” responsibilities. 

The ten tips I am sharing with you today are the same ones my Italian nonna taught me and a few I have learned in my quest to learn how long to cook spaghetti noodles.

There’s comfort in knowing that there are still some things that remain the same in a constantly changing world. 

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★★★★★ Do you have other tips on how to cook spaghetti?  I would love to hear about them in the comments below and be sure to rate my method of cooking pasta!

Recipe

This post was originally published on March 31, 2021, and republished on September 4, 2022 with updated content and photos. Thanks for sharing!