How to Keep Pasta from Sticking Together

A mountain of pasta is always tempting, but not when it’s stuck together in one gooey mass you could scoop up with a fork. Or worse, when tiny clumps sit idly on top of the sauce, refusing to mingle.

Avoid the mess and get perfectly separated noodles with these tips. These tricks will help you avoid sticking and go straight to a saucy, satisfying dish.

Will Oil Stop Pasta from Sticking?

It might seem like adding oil to the water or pasta is a quick fix, like greasing a door hinge, but that’s a mistake. While oil can prevent sticking, it also prevents sauce from sticking to the noodles, leaving you with a sad, oily dish instead.

Tips for Preventing Pasta from Clumping

After you've carefully avoided the oil trap, here are 5 ways to keep your pasta perfectly separated.

Make sure the water is boiling before adding pasta.

We're talking full boil here, not just a simmer. The water should be bubbling vigorously and giving off steam. Patience is key—don’t rush it or you'll end up with a sticky, gummy mess.

Give your pasta a stir while it cooks.

Make sure your pasta doesn’t stick together while it cooks. Give it a good stir right when it hits the water, and then again halfway through and once more near the end. Some say you should stir constantly for the first two minutes, but keeping a close watch on the pot will help.

Semolina is your secret weapon.

Fresh pasta dough releases moisture as it sits, which makes it prone to sticking. Be sure to dust the dough generously with semolina both before and after cutting.

Timing is everything.

The goal is to finish your sauce and pasta at the same time. Otherwise, you risk letting the noodles sit in the colander while the sauce cooks, or overcooking them if you leave them in the water too long. Neither is ideal. Rinsing pasta in cold water is also a no-go, as it washes away the starch that helps the sauce cling.

Make sure you use enough water.

Pasta needs plenty of room to expand as it cooks. If there’s not enough water, the starch released will cause the noodles to clump together. Aim for 3-4 quarts of water for every pound of pasta, and choose a pot large enough to prevent boiling over while giving your pasta space.