Quick Pasta

June 7, 2026

Tiago Valverde

2 min read

A simple baseline method for cooking pasta quickly without overthinking it.

Ingredients

8 ounces (225 grams) dry pasta, about 2 cups of short pasta or a bundle of long pasta the width of a quarter
3 quarts (2.8 liters) water
1 tablespoon salt

Pour 3 quarts of water into a large pot.

Cover the pot with the lid and turn the heat to high.

Once the water reaches a rolling boil, stir in the salt.

Add the pasta and stir immediately for 30 seconds to help prevent sticking.

Leave the lid off and cook the pasta for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Taste a piece of pasta. When it is cooked through but still firm, pour it into a colander to drain.

The 8 to 10 minute range is a good starting point, but the package timing is still useful because pasta shapes vary.
For long pasta like spaghetti, 8 ounces is roughly a bundle the width of a quarter.
For short pasta like penne, 8 ounces is usually about 2 cups dry.
Save a splash of pasta water before draining if you are finishing the pasta with sauce.

About 15 minutes total.

Makes 2 servings.