🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 102 (from laksa179)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa102.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.aol.com/articles/cook-pasta-never-sticks-together-174100510.html\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.aol.com/articles/cook-pasta-never-sticks-together-174100510.html\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.aol.com\/articles\/cook-pasta-never-sticks-together-174100510.html","crawl_time":1773273951,"first_indexed_time":0,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,aol!www,\/articles\/cook-pasta-never-sticks-together-174100510.html s443","src_root_hash":"10243928666277241102","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"How To Cook Pasta So It Never Sticks Together - AOL","meta_descriptions":["Here's everything you need to know to avoid a sticky situation on pasta night."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Credit: Rachel Johnson\nThere is nothing better than a heaping\nplate of pasta\nwhen you've got a big appetite. And there is nothing worse than that heaping pile of pasta noodles sticking together in one giant mound.\nNo one wants to eat their pasta in one thick bite, so how do you keep your\npenne noodles\nfrom merging into one? Pasta sticks together because as noodles are boiled, they release starch, creating a sticky kitchen predicament, especially if your pot is too small or you are not using enough water.\nDon’t let yourself get into this situation the next time you're making your favorite noodles for pasta night. These tips to keep pasta from sticking ensure you'll have a plate of delicious noodles and not a singular clump of starch.\nUse Sufficient Water\nWhen it comes to cooking pasta, you simply fill a pot with water and go, right? Wrong. The amount of water you use to cook pasta is important in preventing the noodles from sticking together.\nBecause pasta will expand while cooking, make sure that there is ample room for each noodle to do so without sticking to its neighbor. The recommended water-to-pasta ratio is\nfour to five quarts of water per pound of pasta.\nIf a standard pot is six to eight quarts, this means it will be filled 3\/4 of the way.\nAllow Fresh Pasta To Dry\nFresh pasta can be very sticky and requires careful handling. If you're making pasta by hand, dust it with a layer of semolina and allow it to dry for about 20 minutes before cutting and boiling. (Store-bought fresh pasta is usually dryer than homemade and can be cooked without additional drying).\nDon't Skip The Salt\nWhile salting the water may not necessarily keep your pasta from sticking together, it will help the flavor. As the water comes to a boil, add about\n1 tablespoon of salt.\nThe pasta water created from the salt and the starch in the noodles can be saved when pasta is finished cooking and is a delicious addition to sauces.\nUse Boiling Water\nIf you're cooking pasta, it's important to add the pasta only once the water begins to boil. Follow this process:\nFill the pot.\nBring the water to a boil.\nSalt the water.\nAdd your pasta.\nStir The Pasta\nIt may seem fairly obvious to make sure you stir pasta as it’s cooking, but it is an important step to remember. Stirring pasta as it cooks helps to ensure even cooking and makes sure starch does not have time to build up and bind the noodles together.\nTime Your Cooking Right\nYou can really gum up the works when you cook your pasta too early and allow it to sit and cool in a colander. Do your best to finish your sauce and your pasta at the same time, so you can quickly combine the two together.\nTry Adding Oil Or Butter\nSome chefs advise simply adding oil to the boiling water. Others, however, caution against this method, because while it may keep the noodles from sticking together, it also prevents sauce from sticking to the noodles, because each noodle will be coated in oil as you drain it. That said, if you are cooking up pasta that uses an oil-based sauce, give this method a try.\nOil can also help keep cooked pasta you are storing for later from sticking. In this case, toss the plain, cooked noodles with a drizzle of oil or melted butter, then put them in a storage container for refrigerating. Once you're ready to use the pasta, you can rewarm it and remove the oil by quickly dousing it in boiling water.\nTips For Different Types Of Pasta\nFor al dente pasta:\nFor the noodles to be slightly chewy, cook them for a shorter time.\nFor long noodles:\nFor noodles like spaghetti and linguine, stirring pasta more often is critical to avoid one big noodle lump.\nFor fresh pasta:\nThe boiling time will be much shorter for fresh pasta.\nRead the original article on\nSouthern Living","attrs_markdown":"- [Home](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/ \"Home\")\n- [Subscriptions](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/products?ncid=mbr_rusacqlnk00000036 \"Subscriptions\")\n- [Animals](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/animals\/ \"Animals\")\n- [Entertainment](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/entertainment\/ \"Entertainment\")\n- Finance\n- [Food](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/food\/ \"Food\")\n- [Games](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/games\/ \"Games\")\n- Health\n- [Home & Garden](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/home-garden\/ \"Home & Garden\")\n- News\n- 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in](https:\/\/oidc.www.aol.com\/login\/?lang=en-us&intl=us&src=fp-us&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aol.com%2Ffood%2Fcook-pasta-never-sticks-together-174100510.html)\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/ \"Home\")\n- [Subscriptions](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/products?ncid=mbr_rusacqlnk00000036 \"Subscriptions\")\n- [Animals](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/animals\/ \"Animals\")\n- [Entertainment](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/entertainment\/ \"Entertainment\")\n- Finance\n- [Food](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/food\/ \"Food\")\n- [Games](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/games\/ \"Games\")\n- Health\n- [Home & Garden](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/home-garden\/ \"Home & Garden\")\n- News\n- [Shopping](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/shopping\/ \"Shopping\")\n- [Style](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/style\/ \"Style\")\n- [Travel](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/travel\/ \"Travel\")\n- [True Crime](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/true-crime\/ \"True Crime\")\n\n- Back\n- Finance\n- [Finance](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/finance\/ \"Finance\")\n- [Banking](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/finance\/banking\/ \"Banking\")\n- [Business News](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/news\/business\/ \"Business News\")\n- [Estate & Retirement Planning](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/finance\/retirement-planning\/ \"Estate & Retirement Planning\")\n- [Loans & Mortgages](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/finance\/mortgages\/ \"Loans & Mortgages\")\n\n- Back\n- Health\n- [Health](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/health\/ \"Health\")\n- [Medicare](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/health\/medicare\/ \"Medicare\")\n\n- Back\n- News\n- [News](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/news\/ \"News\")\n- [Business](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/news\/business\/ \"Business\")\n- [Lighter Side](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/news\/lighter \"Lighter Side\")\n- [Politics](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/news\/politics\/ \"Politics\")\n- [Science & Tech](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/news\/science-tech\/ \"Science & Tech\")\n- [Sports](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/news\/sports\/ \"Sports\")\n- [Weather](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/weather\/ \"Weather\")\n\n# How To Cook Pasta So It Never Sticks Together\n[![Southern Living](https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/_M4vGR97FkJjlEoWq7YAUA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTI2NjtoPTgw\/https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2021-12\/02373770-6986-11ec-a5fe-06b1c58ef699)](https:\/\/www.southernliving.com\/)\n\nKait Hanson\n\nSun, March 8, 2026 at 5:41 PM UTC\n\n0\n\n![Credit: Rachel Johnson](https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/7UNemZO2WmZnqvjM.pTe0w--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/aol_southern_living_articles_226\/37dd003849f2e2470914bee3798c73e6)\n\n*Credit: Rachel Johnson*\n\nThere is nothing better than a heaping [plate of pasta](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/lifestyle\/72-easy-pasta-dinners-whole-202921300.html) when you've got a big appetite. And there is nothing worse than that heaping pile of pasta noodles sticking together in one giant mound.\n\nNo one wants to eat their pasta in one thick bite, so how do you keep your [penne noodles](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/lifestyle\/16-pasta-recipes-prove-penne-154050226.html) from merging into one? Pasta sticks together because as noodles are boiled, they release starch, creating a sticky kitchen predicament, especially if your pot is too small or you are not using enough water.\n\nDon’t let yourself get into this situation the next time you're making your favorite noodles for pasta night. These tips to keep pasta from sticking ensure you'll have a plate of delicious noodles and not a singular clump of starch.\n\n## Use Sufficient Water\nWhen it comes to cooking pasta, you simply fill a pot with water and go, right? Wrong. The amount of water you use to cook pasta is important in preventing the noodles from sticking together.\n\nBecause pasta will expand while cooking, make sure that there is ample room for each noodle to do so without sticking to its neighbor. The recommended water-to-pasta ratio is **four to five quarts of water per pound of pasta.** If a standard pot is six to eight quarts, this means it will be filled 3\/4 of the way.\n\n## Allow Fresh Pasta To Dry\nFresh pasta can be very sticky and requires careful handling. If you're making pasta by hand, dust it with a layer of semolina and allow it to dry for about 20 minutes before cutting and boiling. (Store-bought fresh pasta is usually dryer than homemade and can be cooked without additional drying).\n\nAdvertisement\n\n## Don't Skip The Salt\nWhile salting the water may not necessarily keep your pasta from sticking together, it will help the flavor. As the water comes to a boil, add about **1 tablespoon of salt.**\n\nThe pasta water created from the salt and the starch in the noodles can be saved when pasta is finished cooking and is a delicious addition to sauces.\n\n## Use Boiling Water\nIf you're cooking pasta, it's important to add the pasta only once the water begins to boil. Follow this process:\n\n1. Fill the pot.\n2. Bring the water to a boil.\n3. Salt the water.\n4. Add your pasta.\n## Stir The Pasta\nIt may seem fairly obvious to make sure you stir pasta as it’s cooking, but it is an important step to remember. Stirring pasta as it cooks helps to ensure even cooking and makes sure starch does not have time to build up and bind the noodles together.\n\n## Time Your Cooking Right\nYou can really gum up the works when you cook your pasta too early and allow it to sit and cool in a colander. Do your best to finish your sauce and your pasta at the same time, so you can quickly combine the two together.\n\n## Try Adding Oil Or Butter\nSome chefs advise simply adding oil to the boiling water. Others, however, caution against this method, because while it may keep the noodles from sticking together, it also prevents sauce from sticking to the noodles, because each noodle will be coated in oil as you drain it. That said, if you are cooking up pasta that uses an oil-based sauce, give this method a try.\n\nOil can also help keep cooked pasta you are storing for later from sticking. In this case, toss the plain, cooked noodles with a drizzle of oil or melted butter, then put them in a storage container for refrigerating. Once you're ready to use the pasta, you can rewarm it and remove the oil by quickly dousing it in boiling water.\n\n## Tips For Different Types Of Pasta\n- **For al dente pasta:** For the noodles to be slightly chewy, cook them for a shorter time.\n- **For long noodles:** For noodles like spaghetti and linguine, stirring pasta more often is critical to avoid one big noodle lump.\n- **For fresh pasta:** The boiling time will be much shorter for fresh pasta.\n\nRead the original article on [Southern Living](https:\/\/www.southernliving.com\/how-to-keep-pasta-from-sticking-11913915)\n\nShow comments\n\n0\n\nAdvertisement\n\n## From Our Partners\n[![Advertisement](https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/cv\/apiv2\/adbuilder\/gemini.png)](https:\/\/legal.yahoo.com\/us\/en\/yahoo\/privacy\/adinfo\/index.html)\n\nAdvertisement\n\nDon't miss our daily roundup.\n\nStay informed with a handpicked selection of the day's top AOL stories, delivered to your inbox.\n\nThanks for signing up.\n\nThank you for signing up. You will receive a confirmation email shortly.\n\nStay informed with a handpicked selection of the day's top AOL stories, delivered to your inbox.\n\n#### In Other News\n[Entertainment](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/entertainment\/)\n\n[Entertainment](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/entertainment\/ \"Entertainment\")\n\n[![Entertainment Weekly](https:\/\/s.aolcdn.com\/aoldotcom-releases\/lazyload\/blank.gif)](https:\/\/www.ew.com\/)\n\n[Entertainment Weekly](https:\/\/www.ew.com\/)\n\n[Elton John's husband, David Furnish, gives update on singer's health](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/articles\/elton-johns-husband-david-furnish-202708366.html)\n\n[![Elton John's husband, David Furnish, gives update on singer's health](https:\/\/s.aolcdn.com\/aoldotcom-releases\/lazyload\/blank.gif)](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/articles\/elton-johns-husband-david-furnish-202708366.html)\n\n[Entertainment](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/entertainment\/ \"Entertainment\")\n\n[![People](https:\/\/s.aolcdn.com\/aoldotcom-releases\/lazyload\/blank.gif)](https:\/\/www.people.com\/)\n\n[People](https:\/\/www.people.com\/)\n\n[Willa Ford wasn't going to 'speak out' about experiencing seizures. 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All rights reserved.","attrs_readable_markdown":"![Credit: Rachel Johnson](https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/7UNemZO2WmZnqvjM.pTe0w--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/aol_southern_living_articles_226\/37dd003849f2e2470914bee3798c73e6)\n\n*Credit: Rachel Johnson*\n\nThere is nothing better than a heaping [plate of pasta](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/lifestyle\/72-easy-pasta-dinners-whole-202921300.html) when you've got a big appetite. And there is nothing worse than that heaping pile of pasta noodles sticking together in one giant mound.\n\nNo one wants to eat their pasta in one thick bite, so how do you keep your [penne noodles](https:\/\/www.aol.com\/lifestyle\/16-pasta-recipes-prove-penne-154050226.html) from merging into one? Pasta sticks together because as noodles are boiled, they release starch, creating a sticky kitchen predicament, especially if your pot is too small or you are not using enough water.\n\nDon’t let yourself get into this situation the next time you're making your favorite noodles for pasta night. These tips to keep pasta from sticking ensure you'll have a plate of delicious noodles and not a singular clump of starch.\n\n## Use Sufficient Water\nWhen it comes to cooking pasta, you simply fill a pot with water and go, right? Wrong. The amount of water you use to cook pasta is important in preventing the noodles from sticking together.\n\nBecause pasta will expand while cooking, make sure that there is ample room for each noodle to do so without sticking to its neighbor. The recommended water-to-pasta ratio is **four to five quarts of water per pound of pasta.** If a standard pot is six to eight quarts, this means it will be filled 3\/4 of the way.\n\n## Allow Fresh Pasta To Dry\nFresh pasta can be very sticky and requires careful handling. If you're making pasta by hand, dust it with a layer of semolina and allow it to dry for about 20 minutes before cutting and boiling. (Store-bought fresh pasta is usually dryer than homemade and can be cooked without additional drying).\n\n## Don't Skip The Salt\nWhile salting the water may not necessarily keep your pasta from sticking together, it will help the flavor. As the water comes to a boil, add about **1 tablespoon of salt.**\n\nThe pasta water created from the salt and the starch in the noodles can be saved when pasta is finished cooking and is a delicious addition to sauces.\n\n## Use Boiling Water\nIf you're cooking pasta, it's important to add the pasta only once the water begins to boil. Follow this process:\n\n1. Fill the pot.\n2. Bring the water to a boil.\n3. Salt the water.\n4. Add your pasta.\n## Stir The Pasta\nIt may seem fairly obvious to make sure you stir pasta as it’s cooking, but it is an important step to remember. Stirring pasta as it cooks helps to ensure even cooking and makes sure starch does not have time to build up and bind the noodles together.\n\n## Time Your Cooking Right\nYou can really gum up the works when you cook your pasta too early and allow it to sit and cool in a colander. Do your best to finish your sauce and your pasta at the same time, so you can quickly combine the two together.\n\n## Try Adding Oil Or Butter\nSome chefs advise simply adding oil to the boiling water. Others, however, caution against this method, because while it may keep the noodles from sticking together, it also prevents sauce from sticking to the noodles, because each noodle will be coated in oil as you drain it. That said, if you are cooking up pasta that uses an oil-based sauce, give this method a try.\n\nOil can also help keep cooked pasta you are storing for later from sticking. In this case, toss the plain, cooked noodles with a drizzle of oil or melted butter, then put them in a storage container for refrigerating. Once you're ready to use the pasta, you can rewarm it and remove the oil by quickly dousing it in boiling water.\n\n## Tips For Different Types Of Pasta\n- **For al dente pasta:** For the noodles to be slightly chewy, cook them for a shorter time.\n- **For long noodles:** For noodles like spaghetti and linguine, stirring pasta more often is critical to avoid one big noodle lump.\n- **For fresh pasta:** The boiling time will be much shorter for fresh pasta.\n\nRead the original article on [Southern Living](https:\/\/www.southernliving.com\/how-to-keep-pasta-from-sticking-11913915)","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Title	How To Cook Pasta So It Never Sticks Together - AOL
Meta Description	Here's everything you need to know to avoid a sticky situation on pasta night.
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Boilerpipe Text	Credit: Rachel Johnson There is nothing better than a heaping plate of pasta when you've got a big appetite. And there is nothing worse than that heaping pile of pasta noodles sticking together in one giant mound. No one wants to eat their pasta in one thick bite, so how do you keep your penne noodles from merging into one? Pasta sticks together because as noodles are boiled, they release starch, creating a sticky kitchen predicament, especially if your pot is too small or you are not using enough water. Don’t let yourself get into this situation the next time you're making your favorite noodles for pasta night. These tips to keep pasta from sticking ensure you'll have a plate of delicious noodles and not a singular clump of starch. Use Sufficient Water When it comes to cooking pasta, you simply fill a pot with water and go, right? Wrong. The amount of water you use to cook pasta is important in preventing the noodles from sticking together. Because pasta will expand while cooking, make sure that there is ample room for each noodle to do so without sticking to its neighbor. The recommended water-to-pasta ratio is four to five quarts of water per pound of pasta. If a standard pot is six to eight quarts, this means it will be filled 3/4 of the way. Allow Fresh Pasta To Dry Fresh pasta can be very sticky and requires careful handling. If you're making pasta by hand, dust it with a layer of semolina and allow it to dry for about 20 minutes before cutting and boiling. (Store-bought fresh pasta is usually dryer than homemade and can be cooked without additional drying). Don't Skip The Salt While salting the water may not necessarily keep your pasta from sticking together, it will help the flavor. As the water comes to a boil, add about 1 tablespoon of salt. The pasta water created from the salt and the starch in the noodles can be saved when pasta is finished cooking and is a delicious addition to sauces. Use Boiling Water If you're cooking pasta, it's important to add the pasta only once the water begins to boil. Follow this process: Fill the pot. Bring the water to a boil. Salt the water. Add your pasta. Stir The Pasta It may seem fairly obvious to make sure you stir pasta as it’s cooking, but it is an important step to remember. Stirring pasta as it cooks helps to ensure even cooking and makes sure starch does not have time to build up and bind the noodles together. Time Your Cooking Right You can really gum up the works when you cook your pasta too early and allow it to sit and cool in a colander. Do your best to finish your sauce and your pasta at the same time, so you can quickly combine the two together. Try Adding Oil Or Butter Some chefs advise simply adding oil to the boiling water. Others, however, caution against this method, because while it may keep the noodles from sticking together, it also prevents sauce from sticking to the noodles, because each noodle will be coated in oil as you drain it. That said, if you are cooking up pasta that uses an oil-based sauce, give this method a try. Oil can also help keep cooked pasta you are storing for later from sticking. In this case, toss the plain, cooked noodles with a drizzle of oil or melted butter, then put them in a storage container for refrigerating. Once you're ready to use the pasta, you can rewarm it and remove the oil by quickly dousing it in boiling water. Tips For Different Types Of Pasta For al dente pasta: For the noodles to be slightly chewy, cook them for a shorter time. For long noodles: For noodles like spaghetti and linguine, stirring pasta more often is critical to avoid one big noodle lump. For fresh pasta: The boiling time will be much shorter for fresh pasta. Read the original article on Southern Living
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[Politics](https://www.aol.com/news/politics/ "Politics") - [Science & Tech](https://www.aol.com/news/science-tech/ "Science & Tech") - [Sports](https://www.aol.com/news/sports/ "Sports") - [Weather](https://www.aol.com/weather/ "Weather") # How To Cook Pasta So It Never Sticks Together [![Southern Living](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/_M4vGR97FkJjlEoWq7YAUA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTI2NjtoPTgw/https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2021-12/02373770-6986-11ec-a5fe-06b1c58ef699)](https://www.southernliving.com/) Kait Hanson Sun, March 8, 2026 at 5:41 PM UTC 0 ![Credit: Rachel Johnson](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/7UNemZO2WmZnqvjM.pTe0w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_southern_living_articles_226/37dd003849f2e2470914bee3798c73e6) Credit: Rachel Johnson There is nothing better than a heaping [plate of pasta](https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/72-easy-pasta-dinners-whole-202921300.html) when you've got a big appetite. And there is nothing worse than that heaping pile of pasta noodles sticking together in one giant mound. No one wants to eat their pasta in one thick bite, so how do you keep your [penne noodles](https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/16-pasta-recipes-prove-penne-154050226.html) from merging into one? Pasta sticks together because as noodles are boiled, they release starch, creating a sticky kitchen predicament, especially if your pot is too small or you are not using enough water. Don’t let yourself get into this situation the next time you're making your favorite noodles for pasta night. These tips to keep pasta from sticking ensure you'll have a plate of delicious noodles and not a singular clump of starch. ## Use Sufficient Water When it comes to cooking pasta, you simply fill a pot with water and go, right? Wrong. The amount of water you use to cook pasta is important in preventing the noodles from sticking together. Because pasta will expand while cooking, make sure that there is ample room for each noodle to do so without sticking to its neighbor. The recommended water-to-pasta ratio is four to five quarts of water per pound of pasta. If a standard pot is six to eight quarts, this means it will be filled 3/4 of the way. ## Allow Fresh Pasta To Dry Fresh pasta can be very sticky and requires careful handling. If you're making pasta by hand, dust it with a layer of semolina and allow it to dry for about 20 minutes before cutting and boiling. (Store-bought fresh pasta is usually dryer than homemade and can be cooked without additional drying). Advertisement ## Don't Skip The Salt While salting the water may not necessarily keep your pasta from sticking together, it will help the flavor. As the water comes to a boil, add about 1 tablespoon of salt. The pasta water created from the salt and the starch in the noodles can be saved when pasta is finished cooking and is a delicious addition to sauces. ## Use Boiling Water If you're cooking pasta, it's important to add the pasta only once the water begins to boil. Follow this process: 1. Fill the pot. 2. Bring the water to a boil. 3. Salt the water. 4. Add your pasta. ## Stir The Pasta It may seem fairly obvious to make sure you stir pasta as it’s cooking, but it is an important step to remember. Stirring pasta as it cooks helps to ensure even cooking and makes sure starch does not have time to build up and bind the noodles together. ## Time Your Cooking Right You can really gum up the works when you cook your pasta too early and allow it to sit and cool in a colander. Do your best to finish your sauce and your pasta at the same time, so you can quickly combine the two together. ## Try Adding Oil Or Butter Some chefs advise simply adding oil to the boiling water. Others, however, caution against this method, because while it may keep the noodles from sticking together, it also prevents sauce from sticking to the noodles, because each noodle will be coated in oil as you drain it. That said, if you are cooking up pasta that uses an oil-based sauce, give this method a try. Oil can also help keep cooked pasta you are storing for later from sticking. In this case, toss the plain, cooked noodles with a drizzle of oil or melted butter, then put them in a storage container for refrigerating. Once you're ready to use the pasta, you can rewarm it and remove the oil by quickly dousing it in boiling water. ## Tips For Different Types Of Pasta - For al dente pasta: For the noodles to be slightly chewy, cook them for a shorter time. - For long noodles: For noodles like spaghetti and linguine, stirring pasta more often is critical to avoid one big noodle lump. - For fresh pasta: The boiling time will be much shorter for fresh pasta. Read the original article on [Southern Living](https://www.southernliving.com/how-to-keep-pasta-from-sticking-11913915) Show comments 0 Advertisement ## From Our Partners [![Advertisement](https://s.yimg.com/cv/apiv2/adbuilder/gemini.png)](https://legal.yahoo.com/us/en/yahoo/privacy/adinfo/index.html) Advertisement Don't miss our daily roundup. Stay informed with a handpicked selection of the day's top AOL stories, delivered to your inbox. Thanks for signing up. Thank you for signing up. You will receive a confirmation email shortly. 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Readable Markdown	![Credit: Rachel Johnson](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/7UNemZO2WmZnqvjM.pTe0w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_southern_living_articles_226/37dd003849f2e2470914bee3798c73e6) Credit: Rachel Johnson There is nothing better than a heaping [plate of pasta](https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/72-easy-pasta-dinners-whole-202921300.html) when you've got a big appetite. And there is nothing worse than that heaping pile of pasta noodles sticking together in one giant mound. No one wants to eat their pasta in one thick bite, so how do you keep your [penne noodles](https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/16-pasta-recipes-prove-penne-154050226.html) from merging into one? Pasta sticks together because as noodles are boiled, they release starch, creating a sticky kitchen predicament, especially if your pot is too small or you are not using enough water. Don’t let yourself get into this situation the next time you're making your favorite noodles for pasta night. These tips to keep pasta from sticking ensure you'll have a plate of delicious noodles and not a singular clump of starch. ## Use Sufficient Water When it comes to cooking pasta, you simply fill a pot with water and go, right? Wrong. The amount of water you use to cook pasta is important in preventing the noodles from sticking together. Because pasta will expand while cooking, make sure that there is ample room for each noodle to do so without sticking to its neighbor. The recommended water-to-pasta ratio is four to five quarts of water per pound of pasta. If a standard pot is six to eight quarts, this means it will be filled 3/4 of the way. ## Allow Fresh Pasta To Dry Fresh pasta can be very sticky and requires careful handling. If you're making pasta by hand, dust it with a layer of semolina and allow it to dry for about 20 minutes before cutting and boiling. (Store-bought fresh pasta is usually dryer than homemade and can be cooked without additional drying). ## Don't Skip The Salt While salting the water may not necessarily keep your pasta from sticking together, it will help the flavor. As the water comes to a boil, add about 1 tablespoon of salt. The pasta water created from the salt and the starch in the noodles can be saved when pasta is finished cooking and is a delicious addition to sauces. ## Use Boiling Water If you're cooking pasta, it's important to add the pasta only once the water begins to boil. Follow this process: 1. Fill the pot. 2. Bring the water to a boil. 3. Salt the water. 4. Add your pasta. ## Stir The Pasta It may seem fairly obvious to make sure you stir pasta as it’s cooking, but it is an important step to remember. Stirring pasta as it cooks helps to ensure even cooking and makes sure starch does not have time to build up and bind the noodles together. ## Time Your Cooking Right You can really gum up the works when you cook your pasta too early and allow it to sit and cool in a colander. Do your best to finish your sauce and your pasta at the same time, so you can quickly combine the two together. ## Try Adding Oil Or Butter Some chefs advise simply adding oil to the boiling water. Others, however, caution against this method, because while it may keep the noodles from sticking together, it also prevents sauce from sticking to the noodles, because each noodle will be coated in oil as you drain it. That said, if you are cooking up pasta that uses an oil-based sauce, give this method a try. Oil can also help keep cooked pasta you are storing for later from sticking. In this case, toss the plain, cooked noodles with a drizzle of oil or melted butter, then put them in a storage container for refrigerating. Once you're ready to use the pasta, you can rewarm it and remove the oil by quickly dousing it in boiling water. ## Tips For Different Types Of Pasta - For al dente pasta: For the noodles to be slightly chewy, cook them for a shorter time. - For long noodles: For noodles like spaghetti and linguine, stirring pasta more often is critical to avoid one big noodle lump. - For fresh pasta: The boiling time will be much shorter for fresh pasta. Read the original article on [Southern Living](https://www.southernliving.com/how-to-keep-pasta-from-sticking-11913915)
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