Pasta will stick together if you make 1 common mistake

Pasta is a go-to ingredient in most UK households due to its versatility, affordability, and ease of preparation. The dish is a staple in weekly meal plans, often featured in comforting and crowd-pleasing dishes like spaghetti Bolognese, macaroni cheese, and pasta bakes.

Whether served with rich sauces, baked with cheese, or tossed with vegetables, pasta remains a much-loved part of British home cooking. However, there is one thing that could easily spoil the taste of the most-loved dish. No one wants a big clump of pasta that sticks together like one solid lump you can lift with a fork. Experts from allrecipes have shared that one easy mistake that can happen during the cooking process will result in pasta sticking together, and how you can avoid it.

According to the experts, one should always wait until the water is fully boiling before adding pasta to the pot. That means a rolling boil-bubbling vigorously and steaming strongly-not just a gentle simmer.

The experts explained that even if you are hungry and tempted to rush, putting pasta in too early can lead to a sticky, gummy mess. Properly boiling water helps the pasta cook evenly and prevents it from clumping together into one starchy lump.

They said: "Pasta needs space to expand as it cooks. And the starch it releases makes the situation stickier. If there's not enough water for that starch to grow, it'll have no other choice than to make clumpy noodles.

"The recommendation is 3-4 quarts water for every pound of pasta and a pot big enough to handle the water and pasta without boiling over."

While it might seem logical to use oil to prevent pasta from sticking, much like greasing a squeaky door hinge, the experts warned this may create an issue.

They explained that while this can stop the noodles from clumping together, it also creates a slippery surface that prevents sauces from clinging properly.

Instead of a flavourful, well-coated dish, you end up with pasta that slides away from the sauce-a disappointing result that's best avoided.