Pasta Cooking Guides
Expert tips, techniques, and knowledge to perfect your pasta game.
30 Pasta Dinner Ideas for Busy Weeknights
Running out of dinner ideas? Here are 30 fast, easy pasta dinners the whole family will love — all ready in under 30 minutes.
Types of Spaghetti Explained
From spaghettini to spaghettoni, bucatini to capellini — here’s every type of spaghetti-style pasta and what sauces they pair best with.
Alfredo vs Carbonara: What’s the Difference?
Alfredo uses butter and Parmesan to create a creamy sauce; Carbonara uses eggs, Pecorino, and guanciale with no cream. Here’s the full comparison.
Marinara vs Spaghetti Sauce: What’s the Difference?
Marinara is a simple, quick tomato sauce made with just tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and basil. Spaghetti sauce (meat sauce/ragù) adds ground meat, onions, and simmers longer. Here’s when to use each.
How Long to Cook Pasta — Complete Timing Chart
Exact cooking times for every pasta shape from angel hair (2 min) to rigatoni (14 min). Plus the al dente trick that makes pasta taste restaurant-quality.
Best Pasta Sauce Pairings by Shape
Not every sauce works with every pasta shape. Here’s the definitive guide to matching pasta shapes with their ideal sauces.
How to Make Pasta From Scratch
Fresh homemade pasta needs just 3 ingredients: flour, eggs, and salt. Here’s the step-by-step method for silky, restaurant-quality fresh pasta at home.
Fresh Pasta vs Dried Pasta: When to Use Each
Fresh pasta isn’t always better than dried — they’re different tools for different jobs. Fresh excels with delicate cream sauces; dried is better for bold tomato and oil-based sauces.
How to Cook Pasta Al Dente Every Time
Al dente means ‘to the tooth’ — pasta that’s cooked through but still has a slight firmness when bitten. Here’s the foolproof method.
Pasta and Wine Pairing Guide
Match your pasta sauce to the perfect wine. From light Pinot Grigio with seafood pasta to bold Chianti with Bolognese.
Italian Pantry Essentials for Perfect Pasta
Stock these 15 pantry staples and you can make dozens of authentic pasta dishes anytime without a trip to the store.
10 Pasta Cooking Mistakes You’re Probably Making
From not salting the water enough to rinsing your pasta — these common mistakes are ruining your pasta dinners.
Best Pasta Brands in Canada (2026)
From Italian imports to local Canadian brands — the best dried pasta you can find at Canadian grocery stores, tested by our team.
How to Host the Perfect Pasta Night
A build-your-own pasta bar is the easiest way to feed a crowd. Here’s how to set one up — timing, quantities, and sauce options.
Creative Ways to Use Leftover Pasta
Don’t throw away leftover pasta — turn it into frittatas, baked pasta pies, crispy pan-fried noodles, or next-day pasta salads.
Canadian Pasta Traditions Coast to Coast
From Montreal’s Italian delis to Vancouver’s fusion noodle bars — how Canadians have made pasta their own.
The Complete Pasta Meal Prep Guide
Prep a week’s worth of pasta lunches on Sunday in under 2 hours. Here’s which pastas reheat well, which sauces to make ahead, and storage tips.