Keeping pasta from sticking is easy once you know the tricks!

 

Keeping pasta from sticking is easy once you know the tricks! Here's how:

1. Use a big pot with lots of water — pasta needs space to move around.

2. Salt the water generously — it seasons the pasta and helps it stay slick.

3. Stir right after you drop it in — especially in the first 1–2 minutes when it’s most likely to stick.

4. Keep it moving — give it an occasional stir as it cooks.

5. Don’t overcook — sticky pasta is often overcooked pasta. Aim for al dente.

6. Skip oil in the water — it actually makes sauces slide off later.

If you're not tossing it with sauce right away, you can also lightly toss the drained pasta with a tiny splash of olive oil to keep it separate.