Barilla Settles the Debate: This Is When You Should Salt Pasta Water

Pasta plus sauce equals the ultimate easy dinner: Boil water, add pasta, and open a jar of marinara. There is one more step you need to take if you want your pasta to taste great, however. You’ve got to add salt to the water. But when? Some people say to add it to cold water at the beginning, others say to add it when the water comes to a rolling boil, just before the pasta goes in, with the pasta, or when the pasta is halfway done cooking. And then there are those who insist you should skip salting the water and season your finished dinner to taste. 

Pasta enthusiasts have passionately argued all sides of this debate. That’s why we tapped the ultimate expert of pasta—Barilla—to settle it for us once and for all. We asked Lorenzo Boni, executive chef at Barilla Americas, for some authoritative answers.

What’s the Right Time to Salt the Pasta Water?

Turns out, the answer to this question isn’t ambiguous.

Why Add Salt at This Precise Moment?

There are several reasons why this is salt’s moment to enter the scene. You don't want to add it too soon—like when the water is still cold or even lukewarm—because the salt itself will slow down the boiling process, says Boni.

Further, adding the salt too soon can cause even worse problems. “Letting the water boil with salt in it for too long before cooking the pasta concentrates the sodium content,” says Boni. That means your dinner could end up unpleasantly salty. According to Boni, this is a very common pasta cooking mistake.

Does Timing Really Matter?

In his experience, Boni says the salt strengthens the pasta’s structure, making it an important part of creating that classic al dente texture. The chef also thinks the salt prevents the pasta from sticking, so it’s key that the two ingredients spend enough time together in the pot.

And then there’s the matter of flavor. “From a culinary standpoint, a little bit of salt will enhance the natural flavor of the grain. Think how a pinch of salt brings to life the flavor of a chocolate chip cookie. It's the same idea," says Boni.

What’s the Ideal Pasta-Water-Salt Ratio?

For perfectionist home cooks who want to nail the pasta-to-water ratio, Boni recommends starting with one gallon of water for one pound of dry pasta. Then add four teaspoons of salt to every gallon. With this ratio in place, use high heat and maintain a hard boil for the whole pasta cooking time.  "When first stirring in the pasta, make sure it is completely separated, then stir every two to three minutes until the cooking process is completed. Hard boiling water and the correct water-to-pasta ratio will help reduce the amount you'll need to stir, too."

How Much Salt Does Pasta Absorb?

If you watch your salt intake and worry about adding multiple teaspoons of salt to your pasta water, you should know very little of it makes its way into the noodles. "Salt dissolves completely in water. Most of it gets discarded when the pasta gets drained, so only a small amount of salt contained in the water will actually get absorbed by the pasta,” says Boni.

If sodium is really a worry, a little salt in the water will still go a long way. Use less, but use some. When it comes to how much sodium you actually consume, other parts of your meal will matter a lot more. Boni says it’s more effective to reduce the sodium in your sauce (or look for low-sodium sauces if you’re using jarred sauce).

The Bottom Line

Next time it’s pasta night, remember: For a pound of pasta, bring a gallon of water to a hard boil and add four teaspoons of salt right before stirring in your pasta of choice. It's both a culinary tradition and a practical way to enhance flavor and texture.