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Before draining pasta, save a cup of pasta water.
Add ¼ to ½ cup to your sauce to create a creamy, well-coated dish.
5. Using the Wrong Pasta Shape for Your Sauce
Not all pasta shapes are created equal! Certain pasta types are designed to hold specific sauces better.
✅ Fix:
Use long, thin pasta (like spaghetti or linguine) for smooth sauces like carbonara or aglio e olio.
Use short, ridged pasta (penne, rigatoni) for thick, chunky sauces like Bolognese.
6. Not Letting the Pasta Absorb the Sauce
A big mistake is serving pasta without letting it mix with the sauce first. This leads to dry pasta with sauce sitting on top rather than being absorbed into the noodles.
✅ Fix:
Drain the pasta 1 minute early and finish cooking it in the sauce over low heat for a minute.
This helps the pasta absorb the flavors, making the dish taste much better.
The Right Way to Cook Pasta (Step-by-Step Guide)
1. Boil water—use 4-5 liters per 500g of pasta.
2. Add 1-2 tablespoons of salt (don’t add oil).
3. Add pasta and stir immediately to prevent sticking.
4. Cook until slightly firm (al dente) and taste test before draining.
5. Save 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
6. Toss pasta directly in the sauce, adding a splash of pasta water to help coat it.
7. Let it cook in the sauce for 1 minute, then serve with cheese or herbs!
Final Tip: Taste Like a Chef!
Next time you cook pasta, follow these simple tricks to avoid the biggest mistakes. Your pasta will taste richer, silkier, and closer to an authentic Italian dish!
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