The neverending discussion about pasta, olive oil and just putting enough water... 10g salt, 100g pasta, at least 1L water e basta così ! No oil or you ruin the pasta/sauce synergy. 😃

It won't stick together like that if you actually wait for the water to come to a proper boil before you add the pasta

For small portions that probably will work. Plenty of times I’ve put pasta in only to have it stick if I don’t stir a little in the first minute or two. There’s just not enough room for the boiling to agitate the pasta enough to prevent sticking.
I think all you really need is a Knorr chicken stock cube.
- For spaghetti? That kind of seems like a waste of a stock cube since most of that water is just going to get dumped at the end
yes, this is the answer! patience! a proper boil that stays boiling until the pasta is done. no sticking ever. salt and oil are never needed in the cooking water.
- You should still be salting your water. It does nothing to prevent the pasta sticking, but it does make it taste better.
- Well, you definitely still want to add some salt to the water, but that's just for flavor
- Nooo. You need the perfect amount of water so it reabsorbs it's own juices. Succulent Cannibalism.
A bit of oil helps too
- Oil that floats to the top of the water? Don't see that helping much

I wonder wtf you guys do to your pasta, it's like the easiest thing to cook... Boil water, add salt, wait for the time written on the box (or just look at it, you'll see when it's done).

I don't think they boil the water. Must be that. No other way I can think why it would stick.
- If you don’t stir the pasta adequately after adding it to the pot that can make it stick together. Source: my husband does this all the freaking time.
- Also, if the pan isn't large enough the pasta will stick I think. I say I think because despite having cooked pasta hundreds of times I've never had this happen lol
- Or not stir at least once I guess.
- I bought cheap store brand pasta once. That was the only time I've ever had noodles stick together.
Some bad celebrity chef at some point told Americans that you have to put olive oil in the water to prevent sticking.

Like....no. Just stir it occasionally lol
- Americans and oil. Name a more iconic duo.
- Stir at the beginning for 45 seconds so that the pasta don't stick then let the boiling water move the pasta and cook them. Simple.
- Like....no. Just stir it occasionally lol
  
  Why? It doesn't stick while its in the water either way (for me at least, maybe the starch content varies enough to change that around the world).
- put olive oil in the water*
  
  *This recipe is sponsored by Sovena.
It's a shitty pasta fault. Good pasta does not stick, simply boil water add salt put pasta in.
If you throw the pasta on the wall and it sticks, it's done. If you don't want to use the wall, use the inside of the microwave's door.
- Or put it in your mouth and taste like a normal person.
- Please don't throw your pasta.

Cooking pasta correctly is an art, but there are some basic rules to follow if you want consistent results.

If you want to avoid this situation in particular, take the pasta out just before it's done along with about 1/4 cup of the water and add both to your sauce and finish cooking the pasta there. You'll end up with pasta that is cooked perfectly with a sauce that readily adheres to each noodle and no stickyness

This is the way. Once I learned the pasta water trick, I never looked back.
- Don't you just end up with shitty, watery sauce?
How much is one cup? A big one or a small one? I have several
- 237 mL. It's a US unit.
  
  Edit: I just realized I have a 2-cup measuring cup and I've never noticed how weird that sounds until now.
- use the biggest one you have. fill it up to the top then throw that shit away.
- 12 tbsp.

This shouldn't happen unless you overcook your pasta. When the water starts boiling, toss in some salt and then the pasta. Wait for length of time on the pasta package. Then remove from heat and drain. If it still gets sticky, buy a better quality pasta.

If you cook with less water, you need to stir.

I have never once oiled my pasta water. I have also never once had my pasta stick. Just add enough water, boil, salt, pasta. Cook til it's done, I literally never stir the pasta. Test for texture every so often. Drain, save some water for marrying with the sauce better.

Edit cool -> cook ty autocorrect.

Save the rest of water to make risotto next day.
- Not the way I salt my water... Yuck

Never had pasta stick in the boiling water, dunno what some people are doing to their pasta here. Best thing is just taking it right from the boiling water to the sauce before it's done, add some pasta water in there, last thing toss a bit of olive oil in. Throw basil on top to serve if extra fancy.

I've never oiled my pasta water before. It's really simple: use the minumum amount of water to fully boil the pasta, salt the water, wait until the water comes to a full boil, then put the pasta in, regular spaghetti takes about 6-7 minutes to become al dente.

Oil the pasta after you strain it is the way you prevent it from sticking together.

If you use the minimum and precise amount of water, water will be completely evaporated when pasta is done, so you won't have to strain. I don't know why, but this makes pasta so much tasteful.
- It's saltier because all the salt you added is now on the pasta instead of a bunch starting in the water and going down the drain when you strain it

Gluten free pasta is much worse. If you don't stir it a lot for the first 3-4 minutes it WILL stick together.

About with what others have said, you should not stir it so often or you damage it! Usually I stir it only about twice during the boil.

Noodles are tasty

That's all I know, and at this point I'm afraid to learn more

I'm

If you cook in 5-10l of water you will dilute the starch and the pasta won't stick. Also if you mix the sauce through the pasta post cooking and let it rest for 5-10 mins it will soak up the sauce

I swear, it doesn't matter what I try, pasta always sucks. Doesn't matter if I constantly stir, add oil, anything. It always sticks.

Your pasta water should be salty as ocean water. It'll help.
It won't stick if you pour some olive oil after filtering it. Two liters should do

Albin kinda rhymes with Italian so it must be true

Everything is an illusion bro... 🫣

Just cut the pasta short, problem solved.

It's really about flavor, not some magic chemistry. The noodles absorb what's in the water as they cook.

Oily noodles don't fuse with the sauce that well. If you want olive oil flavor in your dish, add it after tossing the noodles in the sauce.
- Who said oily? A small amount, like a teaspoon, of EVOO in a giant pot and you're good.
I've always done the salt and prob a tablespoon of vegetable oil (yeah I'm a pleb). usually make my own sauce or will add simmered vegetables to a store bought base.
- Oil in your pasta water does literally nothing, just skip it.
- I don't like vegetable oils if I am using a tomato sauce--I don't think it goes well together. If I'm doing Mac-n-Cheese, then yes, Otherwise it's olive oil.