To cook pasta properly, bring 1 liter of water to a boil for every 100 grams of pasta. Add 1 tablespoon of salt per 100 grams of pasta. Stir the pasta into the boiling water and cook until al dente, or tender but still slightly firm to the bite. Do not rinse pasta after cooking unless using it for a cold salad. Toss cooked pasta with a small amount of oil or butter before topping with sauce or stirring directly into the sauce to coat evenly.