Did you know that the average American consumes almost 20 pounds in pasta on a yearly basis?

Pasta is one of the most popular dishes on the planet and it is no surprise why. There are many forms of pasta from classics like spaghetti Pomodoro to guilty pleasure comfort food like Baked Rigatoni with Ragú.

If you love eating pasta then being able to make it on your own is a great step towards getting the most out of your life and your palate. Thankfully, you've come to the right place to learn about how to cook pasta.

Keep reading to learn the right way to cook pasta, from shell pasta all the way to al dente.

How to Cook Pasta

To many people, the formula for cooking great pasta is simple. You need a pot, some water, pasta of your choice, some good-sized pinches of salt, and heat. Then, you have dinner.

There is a lot more that goes into making the perfect pasta, so it's important to follow this step-by-step pasta cooking process.

1. Use a Large Pot

Many people make the mistake of using a pot that is too small to make pasta. If the pasta doesn't have the space it needs to cook in, it will end up clumped together. Sadly, this doesn't lead to the delicious pasta that you were hoping for.

You'll want to start with a large pot with natural water. We recommend one liter of water for every 100 gr of pasta. You'll heat that water and put a lid on the pot to hurry the boiling process. Putting the lid on holds in more heat which creates a cycle that leads to quicker boiling times.

2. Add Salt

Once the water has started boiling, remove the lid and add some good-sized pinches of salt to the pot. Once you see that the salt is dissolving into the boiling water you are good to move forward with adding your pasta.

Once the salt and pasta have been added to the pot you will not need the lid anymore. Just make sure to keep the water in the pot at a rolling boil even after your pasta has been added.

3. Start Stirring

You'll want to stir your pasta frequently with a long spoon during the first few moments that it is in the boiling water. Stirring frequently will keep your pasta from sticking to itself.

From there you'll want to stir periodically until the end of the cooking period. Always remember to read the cooking time specified on the pasta bag or box, and we Recommend to cook the pasta three minutes less than the cooking time indicated on the package. If you're making pasta al dente that process could be as short as 6-7 minutes, though it is important to monitor how cooked your pasta is.

4. "Mantecare" la Pasta

Once your pasta has finished cooking time (three minutes less than what is indicated on the package), set aside one cup of pasta water and using a pasta fork, add the pasta to the pan where you are cooking your sauce. Keep cooking the pasta for three more minutes in the sauce, mixing it gently. Add more water if needed from your set aside cup of pasta water, until it gets a creamy consistency. Buon Appetito!

Put the pasta on a plate or pasta bowl. Add your finishing touches using your desired toppings like vegetables, seafood, parmesan cheese, or olives to taste!

Try Other Tasty Italian Dishes

Now that you've learned how to cook pasta, you're well on your way to becoming the cook you always wanted to be.

Pasta isn't a difficult food to master, but al dente can be tricky. You're ready to make the centerpiece dish next time you have company over and they'll be blown away at how great your pasta tastes.

Click here for more exciting recipes that can take your cooking and your palate to otherworldly levels.