Pasta should be cooked al dente, meaning still slightly firm, to preserve its texture. To test for doneness, break a piece in half and taste it, stopping cooking immediately once al dente is reached since it only takes half a minute for pasta to overcook. Cooking times vary depending on the shape, size, flour used, and moisture content of the pasta. Fresh pasta cooks very quickly, within 1 to 1.5 minutes after the water returns to a boil. For best flavor, toss pasta with sauce immediately after draining so the hot pasta coats in the sauce.