by Carol Larsson

Created on: February 22, 2010   Last Updated: February 23, 2010

Cooking spaghetti, how can something that sounds so simple, be so easy to get wrong?

Spaghetti and all the different shapes and sizes of pasta should be cooked until al dente. To be cooked al dente the spaghetti must be neither too soft nor too hard, tender but still firm to the bite. Al dente literally means in Italian, to the tooth.

This cooking method applies equally to spaghetti and other pasta shapes, to homemade, fresh or dried.

Use a large tall pan to cook the spaghetti; you want one that holds plenty of water.

I use a tall, red, enamel pan, which is one of the few things I have left from the relationship with my Italian ex; the others are my beautiful daughter and my love of Italian food.

Fill the pan with water, bring it to the boil. Add the spaghetti all at once. Hold it at one end as you gently push and ease the spaghetti into the pan, the taller the pan the easier it will be.

Stir gently with a long fork, just enough to separate the strands and submerge it completely under the water.

Bring the water back to a boil not a simmer.

Cooking times can vary between different types of spaghetti check the packet for the instructions.

Two minutes before you think it will be cooked according to the instructions, start checking to see if it is cooked.

I personally think the best way to tell if the spaghetti is cooked is to test it between your teeth. It should feel tender with a slight resistance in the middle. The center should not be hard and chalky if it is, it is not quite ready.

Once spaghetti is cooked, it can very quickly become overdone. Don’t leave your pot unattended and expect to cook perfect spaghetti.

When the spaghetti is cooked, drain it immediately in a colander. Then quickly toss it in the sauce you have prepared. Serve immediately.

Some people like to add olive oil to the cooking water; they think it stops it sticking together. There is no need to do this if you use a pan with plenty of water. If you want to add a drizzle of olive oil, add this after you have drained the spaghetti and before you add the sauce.

Do not leave the spaghetti waiting around before serving, as it will become sticky and unpleasant.

Spaghetti can also continue cooking in its own residual heat.

 If you are going to use a serving dish, make sure it has been preheated along with the dishes you are going to eat from.

I hope this advice helps you to cook perfect spaghetti.

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