You made the dough too thick, and now you’re boiling what looks like rubber bands. Patience, grasshopper. Thick lumps might need 5 to 7 minutes. Just keep testing.
You forgot to salt the water? Oof. That’s like telling a joke without a punchline. Always salt your pasta water—it should taste like the sea. It’s the only chance you have to season the noodle from the inside out.
You let the noodles sit in the colander too long? They’ll clump into a tragic, sticky knot. Toss them immediately with a little olive oil or sauce to break them up. Rescue mission, activate!
