some say one should add salt to the boiling water while cooking pasta, to reduce cooking time, others say salt only prolongs it.
Which is true, and why is it so? What does the salt do?
Salt changes the boiling point of water. If in certain conditions pure water will boil at 100 degrees, slated water will boil at a slightly higher temperature. If the pasta will cook in 8 minutes at 100 degrees, it will cook in slightly less time in the higher temperature the salted water reach.
However, you should add the salt to the water after they already boiled, and then let them boil again. If you add the salt to cold water it will take longer to boil and the whole process will be slower. I guess this is the reason for the contradiction you asked about.
You salt the water not just to help the boiling of the pasta but to also provide it some flavor and help some of the starch from the pasta come out.
Also, if your dressing your pasta immediately just drain the pasta don't rinse it under cold water. The rinsing will wash off the starch from the pasta and the sauce won't cling to it properly.
What comes around goes around.
I actually don't think salt changes anything about the boiling time. I think it just helps the pasta from not sticking to the bottom of the bowl.
I always salt the water when it comes to a boil
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