Bring water to a rapid boil

Add salt

Add Spaghetti

Put lid on.

Stir for first two minutes.

Watch the water doesn't bubble over.

You want that spaghetti boiling away to 3 minutes before package directions.

Taste strand. It should have a bite.

It will continue to cook in the sauce you put it in.

Drain pasta, but first reserve a cup of starchy water, which may be used to add back in to the sauce.

If using a tomato sauce, add some tomato sauce to pot, add spaghetti back in, and finish cooking a minute or so. Add in a little starchy water.