What is the purpose of adding salt to pasta water?

Adding salt to pasta water serves primarily to enhance the flavor of the pasta. When pasta is boiled, it absorbs water, and if the water is seasoned with salt, that flavor penetrates the pasta itself. This means that the pasta will taste more flavorful when it is finally served, rather than bland. This practice emphasizes the importance of seasoning not just at the end of cooking but throughout the cooking process to build layers of flavor.

The other options do not accurately reflect the primary purpose of adding salt. While preventing sticking is often addressed through other means, such as using enough water or stirring the pasta, salt does not play a significant role in that aspect. Similarly, while some may think that salt might affect cooking time, its main contribution lies in flavor enhancement, rather than efficiency in cooking. Lastly, there is no evidence that adding salt changes the color of pasta; this is more related to the type of pasta used rather than the cooking process itself.