You want a number, don’t you? Fine. For standard dried spaghetti: 8 minutes is your sweet spot for al dente. But start testing at 6 minutes if you’re paranoid or cooking at high altitude (water boils at a lower temperature up there, so it takes longer to cook the pasta).
For fresh spaghetti: 3 minutes is a safe bet. But set a timer, because two minutes extra can turn plush perfect noodles into sad, slimy worms.
Ultimately? Boil it until it tastes right. That’s the only real rule. The box lies, the internet debates, but your mouth knows the truth.
So, pour a glass of wine, get your timer ready, and become the pasta whisperer you were always meant to be. You’ve got this. And if you overcook it? Well, that’s what Tuesdays are for.
