How to cook al dente pasta
Pasta is one of the easiest dishes to perfect and a great starting point for any at home cook. With a few tried and true tips, you’ll have the perfect al dente pasta dishes on the table in no time!
Equipment
- 1 large pot
Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta
- 4 quarts water
- 1½ tablespoons salt
Instructions
- Bring 4 quarts of water to a fast boil in a large pot.
- Toss in 1 1/2 tablespoons of salt into the boiling water.
- Add in your pound of pasta and give it one stir with a wooden spoon.
- Set your timer for 2 minutes before “al dente” according to the package of pasta.
- Reserve one cup of pasta water for your creamy sauce and strain the pasta in the kitchen sink.
Notes
Pro Tips for cooking al dente pasta
- Large Pot- You need a large pot that holds plenty of water.
- Boiling Water- Hot water that is a rolling boil before adding pasta helps the cooking process.
- Salted Water- This is a key to having great tasting pasta.
- Cooking Time- Don’t overcook the pasta. Cook it until it’s al dente or a little less if the cooking process will continue with the sauce.