Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Travel
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Property
  • Health
  • TV
  • Podcasts
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Travel
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Property
  • Health
  • TV
  • Podcasts
Subscribe
YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

Bucatini pasta with cheese and pepper

Bucatini pasta with cheese and pepper

You've been using your carrot peeler the wrong way

You've been using your carrot peeler the wrong way

Adam Liaw’s lifechanging sausage sizzle hack

Adam Liaw’s lifechanging sausage sizzle hack

The top 5 mistakes Australians make when cooking pasta

The top 5 mistakes Australians make when cooking pasta

{headline}

{headline}

Lamb shank ragu with cherry tomatoes, rosemary and handkerchief pasta

Lamb shank ragu with cherry tomatoes, rosemary and handkerchief pasta

Easy steps to homemade egg pasta

Easy steps to homemade egg pasta

How to make handmade gluten-free tagliatelle all'Amatriciana

How to make handmade gluten-free tagliatelle all'Amatriciana

{headline}

{headline}

How to stop asparagus and herbs wilting in the fridge

How to stop asparagus and herbs wilting in the fridge

The secret to easily removing egg shell from your batter bowl

The secret to easily removing egg shell from your batter bowl

8 foods that reduce stress

8 foods that reduce stress

These 5 tricks will make your pasta so much better

These 5 tricks will make your pasta so much better

The leftovers that can give you food poisoning

The leftovers that can give you food poisoning

These are the 6 best substitutes for vegetable oil

These are the 6 best substitutes for vegetable oil

5 edible Australian native plants you can grow at home

5 edible Australian native plants you can grow at home

  1. Home
  2. Food

5 tips for perfect pasta

The right way to cook a pot of pasta. - by Elle Vernon
  • 05 Mar 2019
5 tips for perfect pasta

Whether you’re cooking spaghetti, penne, rigatoni, linguine or angel hair pasta, these top tips will have you mastering the art of cooking the perfect pot of pasta.

Dried pasta
Andre Martin

1. Boil the water

Cook pasta in a large saucepan of boiling water to allow plenty of room for the pasta to move about freely in the pan.

2. Add the salt

Once the water begins to boil, add salt to the pasta water. This will season the pasta as it cooks. The perfect ratio is 7g of salt per 1L of water. The water should be salty, just like the ocean.

3. Don’t add oil

Save oil for the sauce – don’t add it to the pasta water! If you put oil in your pasta water it will prevent the sauce from sticking to the pasta once it's cooked.

4. Stir the pasta

Once you add the dried pasta to the boiling salted water, give the pasta a good stir for the first 60 seconds, to avoid pasta sticking together. Continue to stir the pasta only occasionally throughout the remaining cooking time.

5. Cook the sauce

If you are serving pasta in a sauce, cook the pasta in the water for 30 seconds less than the packet suggests, then cook the pasta for the final 30 seconds of cooking time in the hot sauce. This will ensure the pasta absorbs as much flavour as possible.

Bowls of spaghetti carbonara
Andre Martin

Now that you know how to boil the perfect pot of pasta, try this simply delicious recipe for spaghetti carbonara. Happy twirling!

You might also like:

How to make your own pasta from scratch

How to cook the perfect steak

The best way to reheat pizza

  • Food
  • Pasta Recipes Dishes
Elle Vernon
Elle Vernon
Elle is an experienced food editor, food stylist, chef and home economist. She always has tips, tricks and sneaky cheats up her sleeve to help everyone, no matter their cooking ability, to create delicious food for family and friends that impresses without the stresses.

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Subscribe for $4.95 per issue

Subscribe Now
Get your mag delivered!

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Subscribe for $4.95 per issue

Subscribe Now
Get your mag delivered!

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

Bucatini pasta with cheese and pepper

Bucatini pasta with cheese and pepper

You've been using your carrot peeler the wrong way

You've been using your carrot peeler the wrong way

Adam Liaw’s lifechanging sausage sizzle hack

Adam Liaw’s lifechanging sausage sizzle hack

The top 5 mistakes Australians make when cooking pasta

The top 5 mistakes Australians make when cooking pasta

{headline}

{headline}

Lamb shank ragu with cherry tomatoes, rosemary and handkerchief pasta

Lamb shank ragu with cherry tomatoes, rosemary and handkerchief pasta

Easy steps to homemade egg pasta

Easy steps to homemade egg pasta

How to make handmade gluten-free tagliatelle all'Amatriciana

How to make handmade gluten-free tagliatelle all'Amatriciana

{headline}

{headline}

How to stop asparagus and herbs wilting in the fridge

How to stop asparagus and herbs wilting in the fridge

The secret to easily removing egg shell from your batter bowl

The secret to easily removing egg shell from your batter bowl

8 foods that reduce stress

8 foods that reduce stress

These 5 tricks will make your pasta so much better

These 5 tricks will make your pasta so much better

The leftovers that can give you food poisoning

The leftovers that can give you food poisoning

These are the 6 best substitutes for vegetable oil

These are the 6 best substitutes for vegetable oil

5 edible Australian native plants you can grow at home

5 edible Australian native plants you can grow at home

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Instyle
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Shop This Offer
Get your mag delivered!