Ina Garten, affectionately known as the Barefoot Contessa, has always had a way of making elegant meals accessible to everyday home cooks. Among her most cherished culinary realms is that of pasta—a simple ingredient with the potential for countless gourmet transformations. Here we boil down her expertise into 10 best tips for cooking pasta like a pro.

1.Use a Large Pot:To keep pasta from sticking, Ina recommends using a large pot filled with plenty of water. This gives the pasta room to move and cook evenly.

2.Salt the Water Generously:Salting the pasta water is critical, according to Garten. It flavors the pasta internally as it absorbs water. She suggests it should taste as salty as the ocean.

3.Bring to a Rolling Boil:Before adding your pasta, make sure your water is at a rolling boil—not just simmering. This helps cook pasta consistently and prevents sticking.

4.Follow Package Instructions:While it might be tempting to wing it, Garten emphasizes that package instructions are a good guideline for cooking times to achieve al dente pasta.

5.Stir Immediately After Adding Pasta:Stir your pasta a few times immediately after you drop it in the water. This initial stirring is crucial to prevent clumping.

6.Test Pasta Before Drain Time:Don’t solely rely on the timer; test your pasta for doneness shortly before the suggested drain time. It should be tender but still firm to the bite.

7.Save Pasta Water:Before draining, Ina advises saving a cup of pasta water, which can be used to adjust the sauce’s consistency later on.

8.Do Not Rinse (Usually):Unless you’re making a cold pasta salad, do not rinse your cooked pasta, says Garten, as the starch helps sauces cling to it.

9.Toss with Sauce ASAP:To get the best flavor melding, toss your drained pasta with sauce immediately after cooking while everything’s hot.

10.Add Fresh Garnishes Last:Fresh herbs or cheese should be added after plating or tossing in sauce to maintain their fresh flavor and texture according to Ina’s tips.