How to cook pasta without guessing.

The short version

1. Bring a generous pan of water to a full boil.
2. Add salt once the water is boiling.
3. Add the pasta and stir during the first minute.
4. Set a timer for one minute less than the packet suggests.
5. Taste one piece. Cook a little longer if the centre is too firm.
6. Save a mug of starchy pasta water, then drain.
7. Toss with sauce. Add pasta water a splash at a time until glossy.

Three common pasta mistakes

Not stirring at the start

The first minute is when pasta pieces are most likely to stick together. A good stir early is more useful than constant stirring later.

Trusting the packet more than the pasta

Packet time is a guide. Taste a piece near the end. You want it tender enough to eat, with no hard chalky centre.

Draining every drop of water

Keep a mug before you drain. It gives you a simple rescue if the sauce becomes thick or dry.

Practise it in Spoonie

Spoonie’s guided cooking mode keeps the current step, timer, warnings and rescue choices on screen while you make Garlic Tomato Pasta.