Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:
- Prepare Salted Water:
- Fill a large pot with water.
- Add a generous amount of salt to the water (approximately 1-2 tablespoons per gallon of water).
- Place the pot on the stove over high heat and bring the water to a boil.
- Cook the Pasta:
- Once the water is boiling, add the pasta.
- Cook the pasta until it is just under al dente, as per the package instructions (usually about 1-2 minutes less than the recommended cooking time).
- Cool the Pasta:
- Drain the pasta in a colander.
- Immediately rinse the pasta under cold running water to stop the cooking process.
- Ensure the pasta is cooled completely, then set it aside for later use.