Don't Overthink It: 7 Pasta-Making Myths and Mistakes You Need to Leave Behind

Pasta is a beautiful thing, and much of that beauty lies in its simplicity. Even if you're making fresh pasta at home, there isn't a lot to it, and that's what makes the Italian staple such a popular base for easy weeknight meals. Despite the basic formula for making dried pasta -- boil salted water, cook until done, drain and serve -- there are dozens of hacks purporting to make your pasta cook faster, taste better and behave more cooperatively once it's done cooking. Many of those secret tricks are actually doing more harm than good. To sift through the mire of pasta-making myths, I spoke with Filippo de Marchi, chef de cuisine at De Majo Restaurant & Terrace in Venice, Italy. He told me the most frequent mistakes home cooks make when making the Italian staple, and shared his expert guidance on avoiding them for better, simpler pasta every time. 1. Tossing pasta against a wall to see if it sticks Cooked pasta will indeed stick to a wall but that doesn't mean it's a good way to determine whether it's done. "This isn't the best way to check for doneness," says de Marchi. "The texture of the pasta can change when it hits the wall, and it doesn't give an accurate indication of whether it's properly cooked." Plus, you're likely to splatter your wall with starchy noodle juice or watch it slide down the wall and behind the stove . Instead, scoop out a single strand and taste it. You'll then be able to tell if it's achieved that perfect al dente texture. 2. Adding precious olive oil to pasta water Olive oil in your water isn't the best fix for sticky pasta. According to Marchi, one of the worst offenses is adding pricey olive oil to pasta water, thinking it will keep noodles from sticking. Olive oil is a necessary addition to most pasta dishes, but save it for the plate. Some folks think it will help keep pasta from sticking when added to boiling pasta water, but "the oil just floats on top of the water and doesn't coat the pasta effectively," says de Marchi. The best way to prevent sticking is to use plenty of water, stir the pasta regularly during the first few minutes of cooking, and ensure you use a pot of the right size for the amount of pasta you're cooking. "This way, the pasta has enough space to move around and cook evenly," he adds. 3. Leaving a pot covered while the pasta is cooking Stopping your pot from boiling over can be as easy as putting a wooden spoon across the top. "Leaving the lid off the pot while the pasta is cooking is the way to go," advises de Marchi. "This prevents the water from boiling over and helps control the cooking process. Plus, it allows the steam to escape, which helps prevent the water from foaming up and making a starchy mess." As recommended, also select a pot...

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