Add spaghetti to a full rolling boil

Add spaghetti to a full rolling boil

Yes.

You want the water at a full, vigorous boil (212°F/100°C at sea level) before you drop the pasta in. No, it is not optional.

The reason is thermal shock and starch management. When you add cold, dry spaghetti, the water temperature drops instantly. If the water isn’t already raging, it’ll take too long to come back to a boil. That extended warm-up period turns the surface of the pasta into a gluey mess — the starches gelatinize too slowly and clump together. A full boil also creates constant agitation, which helps keep noodles separated and prevents