You don’t need to be an Italian chef to cook the perfect bowl of pasta, Chef Massimo Capra shares his four tips for perfect al dente pasta every time.

1. Lots of boiling water

A great bowl of pasta always starts with cold water. Add cold water to a pot and bring to a rapid boil. For one pound of pasta, Chef Massimo Capra recommends having at least three litres of water.

Tip: The water should rigorously boil the entire time the pasta is cooking.

2. It’s not sea water

Salt is key to preserving the flavour of pasta, but Chef Capra warns against adding too much to the pasta water. The water should never taste like the sea, but instead should have a slightly salty flavour to help season the pasta.

3. Stir gently

Because of the starch found in pasta, it tends to clump and stick together easily while it cooks. To avoid this common problem, use a wooden spoon or a pasta fork to gently stir the pasta once it has been added to the water.

4. Al dente is the only way

Be aware that while the packages give a recommended cook time, there are many variables that can influence how long it takes for pasta to actually be cooked perfectly. Chef Capra recommends tasting the pasta after its been cooking for five to seven minutes. Once the noodles are no longer raw on the interior, you know that the pasta is cooked perfectly.