LOADING ERROR LOADINGChef after chef has decried the use of olive oil in pasta water, despite Gordon Ramsay’s love of the addition. Though he claimed it’s “crucial” to prevent pasta from sticking to itself, the general consensus seems to be that of pasta company Barilla, which said: “Skip the oil. How can I prevent pasta from sticking to itself? Lastly, while agitating (stirring) pasta is a good way to prevent pasta from sticking to itself, doing it too early can wreak havoc. Always reserve some starchy pasta water, as its adhesive nature is helpful rather than harmful when it comes to making sauces stick.

Source: Huffington Post February 06, 2026 08:57 UTC