We've all heard it before: "Just add a bit of oil to the pasta water, and your noodles won’t stick together!" Sounds reasonable, right? Well… not exactly.

This old-school kitchen advice has been floating around for decades, but it turns out it's more myth than magic.

Here's the deal:

When you pour oil into boiling water, it floats on the surface. Since pasta stays under the water while it cooks, the oil doesn't really touch it. That means it can’t actually prevent sticking where it matters most—between the noodles themselves.

Even worse? If the pasta does get coated in oil after draining, it can become slippery and prevent your sauce from sticking properly. And let's be real—that's the best part of any good pasta dish!

So what's the real fix?

✨ Salt your water generously – it enhances flavor.
✨ Stir the pasta during the first few minutes – that’s when sticking usually happens.
✨ Use plenty of water – crowded pasta has no space to move.

That’s it. No olive oil needed. Save it for drizzling on top when you’re done! 😉