Ever wonder why a simple plate of pasta at a great Italian restaurant tastes so much better than the version you make at home? The difference often isn’t an expensive ingredient — it’s technique.

In this video, we’re revealing 12 Italian-inspired tricks that can take your homemade pasta from ordinary to rich, silky, and packed with flavor.

From properly salting the cooking water and saving that precious starchy pasta water to choosing the right pasta shape, finishing the noodles directly in the sauce, and knowing exactly when to add cheese, these small details can completely change the final dish.

We’ll also uncover common mistakes that can ruin otherwise good pasta — including overcooking the noodles, rinsing them after boiling, adding too much sauce, and failing to let the pasta and sauce finish cooking together.

Some of these tricks take only seconds to use, but once you understand them, you may never cook pasta the same way again.

Watch until the end for all 12 tricks and discover the simple details that can make homemade pasta taste dramatically better.

What’s YOUR secret to perfect pasta? Share it in the comments!