CreatripTeam

Overcooking makes pasta mushy. Experts say packaged cooking times are conservative (to avoid undercooking) and often leave pasta too soft for finishing in sauce. The trick: pull pasta 1–2 minutes earlier than the bag’s time, test a strand for a slightly firm center, then transfer immediately (no rinsing) into the simmering sauce to finish for another 1–2 minutes. In the sauce, pasta absorbs moisture and seasoning, starch thickens the sauce into a glossy emulsion, and the noodles finish cooking evenly without becoming limp. Rely on taste and feel, not just the timer; reserve bag times for dishes without a sauce finish (e.g., pasta salad or lasagna). (al dente: “to the tooth,” slightly firm to bite)