Pasta Cooking Time Calculator
Pick the shape and how many people for the timing, the weight of pasta and the water and salt to use.
Answer
200g pasta, 9–11 minutes
What you need
What to do
- 1Bring 2 litres of water to a rolling boil and add 15g salt.
- 2Add 200g of spaghetti and stir for the first 30 seconds so it does not stick.
- 3Boil for 9 to 11 minutes, tasting a piece at the earlier time.
- 4Save a mug of the water, drain, then finish the pasta in the sauce for a minute.
Next step
Worth knowing
- Salt the water properly and it seasons the pasta from the inside. Salting the sauce instead never tastes the same.
- Start testing a minute before the earliest time, packet times vary between brands.
- Save a mugful of the cooking water before you drain. Stirred into the sauce it makes it cling to the pasta.
Source: Standard UK packet and cookery-school timings for boiled and steamed staples · Reviewed 2026-09-10 · Guidance version 1.0.0
Reference and detail
Salt the water properly
About 7g of salt per litre seasons the pasta from the inside as it cooks. It is the only chance you get to season the pasta itself, and unsalted pasta tastes flat however good the sauce is.
Taste before you drain
Packet times are a guide, not a promise. Start tasting a minute or two before the earlier time, al dente means firm at the centre, not chalky.
Keep a mug of the cooking water
The starch in it thickens the sauce and helps it cling to the pasta. Finishing the pasta in the pan with the sauce and a splash of that water is what makes the difference between a coated pasta and a dressed one.
Questions and answers
Questions about cooking pasta
How much water do I need to cook pasta?
Use a large pan with plenty of water (roughly a litre per 100g of pasta is a good working amount) so the pasta has room to move and the water temperature does not drop too far when it goes in.
How much pasta should I cook per person?
Amounts vary by course and appetite, so use a dedicated calculator to work out the right weight for your group rather than guessing.
Does fresh pasta need the same cooking time as dried?
No, fresh pasta cooks in a fraction of the time dried pasta takes, often just a couple of minutes, because it has not been dried out. Always check the specific product and start tasting early.
Do I need to add oil to the pasta water?
No, oil in the water mostly sits on the surface and does little to stop sticking. A large pan of well-salted, well-boiling water and an occasional stir is what actually keeps pasta separate.
Safety guidance reviewed against Food Standards Agency sources on 11 September 2026. How we calculate cooking times and safety guidance.