al dente

Refers to the desired texture of cooked pasta in Italian cooking. It literally means “to the tooth”. When the pasta is cooked al dente, there should be a slight resistance in the center when the pasta is chewed.

What should al dente pasta feel like?

The pasta should be cooked through but still offer a little resistance when bitten. It should not have a hard, raw-tasting center, and it should not be soft or mushy. Taste a piece carefully after letting it cool enough to handle; the package time is a starting point rather than a guarantee.

Al dente is a texture, not a fixed cooking time

Pasta shapes and thicknesses cook at different rates. If you will finish the pasta in a hot sauce, account for that additional cooking when you check it. The aim is the texture of the finished dish, not simply the number of minutes spent in the pot.

Put the term into practice

For the full method, including reserved cooking water and finishing with sauce, use our how to cook pasta guide. Find a simple meal idea in easy recipes for college students, or return to the culinary glossary for other cooking terms.