This Common Pasta Cooking Myth Is Totally False—And We Can Prove It

Pasta is one of the most reliable, fuss-free dinners of all time, But, for some reason, there are still common pasta-cooking misconceptions out there that are over-complicating it.

In a recent thread, Reddit users shared one of the cooking myths they see regularly debated on the internet (specifically on social media platforms like TikTok) concerning how to properly cook pasta. So, we want to go ahead and clear it right up. 

Do You Need to Add Olive Oil To Pasta Water? 

The long and short of it is: No, you don’t need to add olive oil to pasta water. 

Now, there are a few reasons why this method is defended: It does disrupt the foaming of the pasta water so that you aren’t left with a boiled-over mess on your stovetop. It also gives the pasta a slippery bath to boil in, so none of the noodles stick together.

But, now for the downside: The thin layer of oil that coats every cooked noodle can prevent the pasta sauce from sticking to the pasta, leaving you with a plate of naked, flavorless noodles.

Why Pasta Water Doesn’t Need Oil 

As long as you start stirring the pasta noodles in your pot of well-salted water within the first minute or so of cooking (and make sure you start with the right ratio of water), the noodles won’t stick to each other—oil or no oil.

Adding oil to pasta water won’t ruin your dish, but in truth, it isn’t necessary. Even worse, it would be a waste of your precious (and often pricey) ingredient. In fact, most of the time, you’ll find the oil floating in pools on top of the boiling water anyway, not serving any purpose at all.

So, do as the Italians do. Save your EVOO for the finished plates (and for serving with crusty bread) and savor the simplicity of a delicious pasta dinner.