You've probably heard the old adage "a watched pot never boils." But what if you didn’t have to watch…or even wait at all? Our assistant food editor (and pasta queen) Francesca Zani makes a strong ...

But those seem tame compared to a more recent revelation: it turns out some chefs, including Alton Brown, swear by starting their pasta off in cold water. This, he claims, leads to “quicker cook times ...