Unlike other squash varieties, spaghetti squash has a stringy, pasta-like texture once cooked. Baking a spaghetti squash best brings out the flavor but takes double the time of microwaving it.

Cook pasta about 1 to 2 minutes less than al dente—barely sticking to the teeth when bitten. Transfer boiled pasta to a skillet with simmering sauce to finish cooking and flavoring pasta. Finish pasta ...