How to cook pasta

How long does pasta take to cook?

• Most dried ribbons of pasta such as linguine, spaghetti and tagliatelle take between 8-10 mins.
• Shorter, thicker pasta shapes like bows or penne take 10-12 mins.
• Fresh pasta such as ravioli and tortellini will take 3-5 mins.

How do I season pasta?

• 1 tsp salt, or more if you prefer, in the cooking water
• Sauce, oil or butter of your choice over the cooked, drained pasta
• Finely grated hard cheese, such as parmesan or pecorino, to finish

What does 'al dente' mean?

In cooking, al dente means cooking pasta so it still has some bite (in Italian 'al dente' literally translates to 'to the tooth'). This means cooking it for a couple of minutes less than the packet instructions suggest.

How to cook pasta

1. The first step is to make sure you have plenty of water in your pan. Use a large, high sided saucepan and add at least 500ml, or up to 1 litre of water per 100g dried pasta (depending on the capacity of your pan). Make sure there’s still enough room at the top because you don’t want the water to bubble up and overflow.
2. Bring the pan of water to the boil then add the pasta. If you like, or the recipe suggests, salt the water first, or if you prefer, add a splash of olive oil.
3. After about 8 mins of boiling, carefully fish a piece of pasta out of the pan, allow it to cool and taste it. If it’s ready, take the pasta off the heat straightaway, if not give it another minute then test again.
4. Once the pasta is cooked, take it out of the water and allow it to steam dry for a minute or two before mixing it with any sauce or dressing. If the sauce you want to use is too thick, reserve a little of the pasta water to thin it down.
5. Lasagne sheets or cannelloni tubes are made to be baked instead of boiled so make sure that the sauce you are layering or stuffing them with isn’t too dry as they will need to absorb some liquid as they bake.

Discover our favourite pasta sauce recipes.

Pasta recipes

Cacio e pepe with runner beans

A simple, classic and tasty way to serve pasta dressed in (lots of) butter, cheese and black pepper, allowing the pasta to take centre stage. This basic recipe is a must-try, great for a no-fuss meal for two.

Homemade pesto ideas

Once you’ve perfected your pasta try swirling through a dollop of good homemade pesto. Start with the classic basil then go wild with our five new twists on this old favourite. Add different nuts and herbs to jazz up the traditional recipe and suit your taste.

Classic lasagne

You can't beat a classic lasagne - it's the ultimate comfort food and a great way to feed a crowd. Discover our classic lasagne with creamy béchamel and a prosciutto and beef mince ragu. Get inspired with more lasagne recipes including healthy lasagne recipes and vegetarian lasagne recipes.

Garlicky mushroom penne

Pasta doesn’t always have to be heavy on the cheese to be satisfying and delicious. Try this punchy vegan recipe with dried wholemeal penne, fresh mushrooms and a drizzle of tahini. Try more vegan pasta recipes.

Avocado & smoked salmon spelt spaghetti

Ring the changes with nutty spelt pasta. It cooks in the same way as regular wheat pasta but it packs a stronger flavour and extra fibre. This wholesome recipe is great for getting a dose of omega-3, too, and you can throw it together in just 15 minutes.

Get more recipe inspiration...

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What's your favourite way to serve pasta? Leave a comment below...