Many people think cooking pasta is easy since it merely requires boiling water. However, getting pasta to come out al dente, or just right, requires more than just a pot. Knowing when to stir, how often and for how long can make a huge difference between light and fluffy pasta that tastes great or lumpy, stuck together pasta that quickly loses its appeal. Whether you’re cooking up spaghetti, linguine, penne or any other type of Italian pasta follow some easy guidelines to ensure your dish comes out right.

Because pasta cooking is relatively simple compared with other cuisine creations many people overlook the basics and end up with oily, starchy pasta that is clumpy and bland. Though cooking Traditional Italian pasta is easy and quick you must be careful during the first few minutes of boiling to prevent pasta from sticking to the pot and other pieces of pasta. When you put any type of pasta in boiling water the starch granules on the surface instantly swell and then pops leaving a starchy residue that will dissolve in the boiling water. It is important to stir the pasta frequently during this time to keep the sticky, glue-like starch from clumping and literally cooking together.

Adding salt to boiling water before putting the pasta in is a good idea since the salt will season the pasta internally as it absorbs the liquid and swells. If you are using 4 to 5 quarts of boiling water you may want to add 1 to 2 tablespoons of salt or sea salt to season and taste.