How To · technique
How to Make Pasta Sauce Stick to Pasta
Simple techniques that help pasta sauce cling to noodles instead of sliding off or pooling at the bottom of the bowl.
A good pasta sauce should coat the noodles instead of sitting separately in the bowl.
Finish the pasta in the sauce
Move slightly undercooked pasta directly into the sauce for the last minute or two of cooking.
Add pasta water gradually
A small amount of starchy water can help the sauce and pasta come together.
Toss vigorously
Tossing helps create an emulsion and distributes sauce across more surface area.
Match pasta shape to sauce
Thicker sauces often work better with ridged or tubular pasta, while lighter sauces can coat long noodles well.
Do not rinse cooked pasta
Rinsing removes surface starch that can help sauce cling.
