How To Tell When Pasta Is Perfectly Cooked, According to Barilla

So often we treat pasta as nothing more than a vehicle for what we put on top of it, whether that's a chunky tomato sauce, basil pesto, or creamy Alfredo. What’s easy to forget is that if not cooked to perfection, no amount of sauce can hide the disappointing texture of that pasta.

No one wants mushy macaroni or crunchy cavatappi, so I turned to the experts at Barilla for advice on how to know when pasta is done.

What It Means To Be ‘Al Dente’

Throwing spaghetti against the wall might sound fun, but despite what your grandmother or great-uncle may have told you, it’s not the right way to see if your pasta is done.

Barilla’s advice on every box is to cook pasta to al dente, which is Italian for “to the tooth." The best way to test this is by taking a bite of the noodle. But what kind of texture does pasta cooked to al dente actually have?

Barilla explains in a YouTube video that pasta cooked to al dente is firm when you bite into it; it’s tender but has texture. When tossed with other ingredients, the pasta should hold its shape, even under the weight of a meaty bolognese sauce or mix-ins like vegetables. 

How firm is too firm? The pasta company says in its video that if you take a bite and can see a white line inside the pasta, that means it’s not cooked enough. Before you see the white line, though, you'll already know that something is off. The pasta will have a crunchy or unpleasantly chewy texture. 

How Done Is Too Done for Pasta?

Overcooked pasta is no fun either. Barilla shares in the video that pasta cooked too long will be limp and shapeless on the plate. That means it has no chance of supporting sauce, meatballs, or other ingredients. Overcooked pasta will begin to fall apart when stirred, and large shapes like shells will tear when you try to fill them.

In terms of texture, overcooked pasta is so soft that it almost disintegrates on the tongue. Anyone who has eaten canned noodle soup knows exactly what I mean.

Tips for Cooking Pasta Perfectly

Following the directions on the box is a good start, but don’t stop there. Begin taking test bites of your pasta a few minutes early. As soon as it has that al dente texture, dump the noodles out of the water and into a colander.

Another good tip? For pasta that will finish cooking for a few minutes in a sauce, drain it a minute or two early. It’ll be undercooked, but in this case, it’s a good thing—it will finish cooking in the simmering sauce, absorbing some of the flavors.