# What does al dente really mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [June 22, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-al-dente-really-mean/944840 "2021-06-22T14:54:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-al-dente-really-mean/944840/1 "2021-06-22T14:54:28Z")
I see the term “al dente” all the time in pasta recipes, and yes, I know it translates literally to “to the tooth”, but what does that really mean? How do I tell when it’s done al dente? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-al-dente-really-mean/944840/2 "2021-06-22T14:57:05Z")
For the purposes of Pasta it means still firm to the touch. So spaghetti typically takes 8-11 minutes to cook in boiling water. At 8 minutes it has softened but is still firm and thus Al Dente. by 11 minutes it is soggy and limp. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-al-dente-really-mean/944840/3 "2021-06-22T15:21:33Z")
> [@jebert](#): > > …“to the tooth”, but what does that really mean? It means the pasta still has some bite to it. Soft on the outside but a chewy core. It means stop cooking before the pasta is soggy mush. I do a taste-test to confirm, and for spaghetti, when the noodles just start to stick to a wooden spoon it’s about there.