Do not overcook. It should be slightly resistant to the bite, but cooked through. Drain pasta to stop the cooking action. Do not rinse unless the recipe specifically says to do so. For salads, drain and rinse pasta with cold water.
Cooked grains are separate, light and fluffy.
Cooked grains are moist, tender and slightly clingy. Cooked grains cling together. The United States grows different kinds of aromatic rice. Some cook dry and separate and some cook moist and tender. Cooked grains are very sticky.