Here’s a pro move that doesn’t affect the boil time but makes your life a million times better. Right before you drain the spaghetti, scoop out one cup of that starchy, cloudy water. Don’t forget it. I’m serious.
Why? That magical liquid helps your sauce cling to the pasta like a velcro hug. If you skip it, your sauce slides off and pools at the bottom of the bowl. Tragedy.
And while you’re at it, never rinse your cooked spaghetti. Rinsing washes away the starch that makes the sauce stick. Just drain it and toss it with sauce immediately. Or, if you’re making a cold pasta salad, then you can rinse. But for hot spaghetti? Never.
