The answer might surprise you.
There is one more step you better take if you want your pasta to taste great, however.
Youve got to add salt to the water.
Photo:Dotdash Meredith/Janet Maples
Pasta enthusiastshave passionately argued all sides of this debate.
Thats why we tapped the ultimate expert of pastaBarillato settle it for us once and for all.
We asked Lorenzo Boni, executive chef at Barilla Americas, for some authoritative answers.
Allrecipes/Diana Chistruga
Whats the Right Time to Salt the Pasta Water?
Any sooner or later in the process, you may not get the same perfectly seasoned spaghetti or rigatoni.
Why Add Salt at This Precise Moment?
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There are several reasons why this issalts moment to enter the scene.
That means your dinner could end up unpleasantly salty.
According to Boni, this is a verycommon pasta cooking mistake.
Allrecipes/Diana Chistruga
Does Timing Really Matter?
And then theres the matter of flavor.
“Think how a pinch of salt brings to life the flavor of a chocolate chip cookie.
It’s the same idea.”
Whats the Ideal Pasta-Water-Salt Ratio?
Then add four teaspoons of salt to every gallon.
How Much Salt Does Pasta Absorb?
Salt dissolves completely in water.
If sodium is really a worry, a little salt in the water will still go a long way.
Use less, but usesome.
It’s both a culinary tradition and a practical way to enhance flavor and texture.
