People who are cooking homemade pasta for the first time are always amazed at how quickly fresh pasta cooks.
1. Use 4 to 5 quarts of water for 1 pound of pasta, and add about 1/2 teaspoon salt.
2. Bring the water to a boil. Add pasta. Stir pasta with a wooden spoon immediately after dropping it in the pot, or it may stick together.
3. Cover the pot and bring the water back to a boil, then remove the lid.
4. As a general rule:
*fresh flat pasta is done within 5 to 10 seconds after the water in which it has been dropped returns to a boil.
*Stuffed pasta takes a while longer.
*All dried pasta takes much longer, several minutes at least.
*Cooking times for spinach pasta are slightly shorter than for regular pasta.
5. Taste it frequently as it boils to avoid overcooking.
6. Never rinse pasta, unless specifically indicated in a recipe.