How to prevent pasta from becoming stuck while cooking

To prevent pasta from becoming stuck or clumped together while cooking, add a splash of olive oil to the pan of boiling water before adding the raw pasta.

When you add the pasta to the pan, try aiming it straight through the oil patch on top of the water. Give the pasta a good stir, lifting it as you do, up through the oil once or twice and then cook as normal.

Don’t boil the pasta until it is too soft. It should always have a bite to it, which the Italians call "al dente".

To test the pasta, remove a single piece and bite it; if it is soft on the outside with a firm centre, but not crunchy, it is ready.