What does al dente mean?
Al dente, in one line
Al dente is Italian for to the tooth, meaning pasta or rice that is cooked through but still firm and slightly chewy in the center when you bite it.
Why it works
As pasta cooks, starch swells and softens from the outside in. At al dente, the center still has a tiny firm core, which gives a springy bite. Pasta also keeps absorbing sauce and cooking after it leaves the water. Pulling it a minute early and finishing in the sauce gives perfect texture and flavor at the table.
How to do it
Common mistakes
- Cooking to the full package time and then more in the sauce, which makes mushy pasta.
- Rinsing pasta, which washes off the starch that helps sauce stick.
- Using too little water, which makes it sticky.
Questions about al dente
How do you know pasta is al dente?
Bite a strand. It should be tender but firm, with a tiny pale core in the center.
Is al dente pasta safe to eat?
Yes. Cooked pasta is safe even when firm, since the bite does not mean it is raw.
Does al dente apply to rice and vegetables?
Yes. Risotto, beans, and tender-crisp vegetables are also cooked until just tender with a little bite.
Pasta
Salt
Parmesan
