Spaghetti with cooked cherry tomatoes in a bowl.
11 Tips For Cooking The Best Spaghetti Ever

NEWS

By DEVIN PARR
Bronze die and dry penne pasta.
Bronze Cut Pasta
How each pasta is cut in the factory is an important factor to consider when shopping for pasta. Invest in bronze-cut pasta that has been cut using a bronze die.
Bunches of dry spaghetti on a white background.
While the bronze-cut spaghetti may cost a bit more, the splurge is worth it as the bronze die creates a rough texture that ensures your sauce adheres to each noodle perfectly.
Spaghetti with clams on a plate.
Sauces
Certain sauces are meant for long noodles like spaghetti, whereas others are meant for short pasta shapes. Long pasta shapes tend to do well with smooth sauces.
A closeup of cacio e pepe in a bowl.
Think cacio e pepe, carbonara, simple marinara, or rustic aglio olio (garlic and olive oil). Of course, spaghetti alle vongole (with clams) is always a favorite.
A person salting water in a pot.
Salt That Water
Salting your pasta water is the most crucial step in creating a delicious spaghetti dish. Don’t be afraid to toss a generous amount of salt in your pot.
Salt spelled with spilled salt on a table.
You will know you have properly salted your pasta water if it is delicious enough to eat on its own with nothing more than a quick drizzle of olive oil.
Various types of dry pasta on a counter.
Fresh Vs. Dry
Fresh pasta is not necessarily better than dried pasta. Much like certain pasta shapes are better suited to certain sauces, the same goes for fresh versus dried.
A person making pasta from scratch.
Dried pasta can typically stand up to heartier sauces, given its sturdier texture. Fresh kinds of pasta prefer smooth, silky, cream- and butter-based sauces.
Boiling water in a pot.
Boiling Water
When cooking your pasta, make sure the water is fully boiling before salting it. Then, allow it to return to a boil and add your spaghetti noodles.
Not only will this ensure that the noodles cook evenly, but it will also reduce the amount of attention needed on your part, and enhance your pasta’s flavor.