Take One Immediate Step After Adding Pasta To Boiling Water

Incorrectly cooked pasta noodles are gross and mushy. To avoid them, after adding the noodles to the water, stir them and bring

the water back to a roiling boil.

Adding pasta to boiling water slows the contents down to a simmer, cooling the water from a boiling temperature of 212 degrees Fahrenheit to 185 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you don't bring the water back to a boil, you'll be cooking the pasta at a slower temperature, resulting in a mushy texture. It also risks having your noodles clump together.

The second boil is also a great time to add salt. Boiling water will dissolve the salt more quickly and prevent the salt from falling to the bottom, where it can scratch the pot.