How do you decide if your pasta is done cooking? Are you like me, and grab a piece out of the boiling water only to burn your tongue as you taste it? Try these other fool-proof ways to decide if your pasta is ready for sauce!

1. Throw it. Yup, that old myth is totally true. Try throwing a couple pieces of pasta at your cupboard to see if they stick. If they stick, the pasta is done! Unfortunately, this only works for the smaller pastas like angel hair and linguine.

2. Modified Taste Test. Rinse pasta in cold water before tasting, so that you don't burn yourself! This is a good method for tasting penne and macaroni, larger pastas that don't stick to the wall.

3. Color test. If you can tell a color difference between the outside of the pasta and its inner layers, then the pasta is not done. Cooked pasta will have one consistent color throughout. The exception: tortellini or ravioli, obviously. They're supposed to have a different filling!

Your pasta will definitely be al dente if you follow these tips! One of the most versatile foods, if you master this you're on your way to being a great Italian chef!