Rest spaghetti in sauce for 1-2 minutes. Longer is better but not required.

Not strictly necessary, but it makes a noticeable difference.

When you drain pasta and dump sauce on top, it sits on the surface. A minute or two of tossing the pasta in the sauce over low heat lets it absorb some liquid and stick better. Each strand carries flavor instead of just being a vehicle.

The danger is overdoing it. Let it sit too long and the pasta keeps soaking up sauce, turning soft and bloated. You lose that al dente texture you worked for. One to two minutes is the sweet spot. Give it a quick toss right after draining, let it rest covered for a minute, then serve.

If you’re holding it for later, undercook the pasta by a minute and keep extra sauce on hand. But for a regular dinner? A couple minutes in the pan is all you need.

Your pasta deserves those extra seconds.