Final answer:
Pasta should be cooked "al-dente" or "to the tooth" means it should be cooked until it is firm when bitten but not hard.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pasta should be cooked "al-dente" or "to the tooth" which means it should be cooked until it is still firm when bitten but not hard. The term originated from Italian cuisine and is commonly used to describe the ideal texture of cooked pasta. When pasta is cooked al-dente, it has a slight resistance when chewed and is not overly soft or mushy.