Six simple tips for making the perfect pasta at home from Jamie Oliver

Making perfect pasta is easier than you think and Jamie Oliver swears by a few simple tricks. From seasoning your water the right way to using that secret starchy water for silky sauces, these tips will take your pasta game from average to restaurant quality. (Source: Photo by unsplash and wikimedia commons )

Use Plenty of Water and Add Salt: Jamie says to boil your pasta in a big pot so the pasta can move freely, and season the water generously. (Source: Photo by unsplash and wikimedia commons )

Don't Overcrowd and Stir Early: When using long pasta like spaghetti or linguini, twist and fan it as you drop it in so it doesn’t stick together. Then stir after it’s in to keep things from clumping (Source: Photo by unsplash and wikimedia commons )

Cook until just al dente & start checking before the timer’s up: Follow the package instructions but start testing a couple of minutes early so you get that tender but firm texture. (Source: Photo by unsplash and wikimedia commons )

Save Some Pasta Cooking Water: Jamie recommends saving some of the starchy water before draining because it helps make sauces smoother, more silky, and helps them cling to pasta. (Source: Photo by unsplash and wikimedia commons )

Stir after Adding Pasta, Quickly: Give it a quick stir right after dropping it in to prevent clumping, especially for long pasta like spaghetti. (Source: Photo by unsplash and wikimedia commons )

Toss with Sauce Immediately: Rinsing removes the starch that helps sauce adhere. Instead, drain then immediately mix with your sauce so the flavours stick. (Source: Photo by unsplash and wikimedia commons )