There are some basic mistakes you should avoid when making pasta salad, in order to get the best results: 1. Not using the right type of pasta. Using spaghetti to make a pasta salad won't work because the pasta should be short in order to get mixed with the other ingredients better. For salads with dressing, using pasta types with nooks and crannies such as penne rigatte or rotini, will catch the dressing resulting in more flavor in each bite. 2. Overcooking or undercooking the pasta. The pasta should be cooked al dente, so that you can feel the texture in each bite. 3. Not rinsing the pasta. In most pasta dishes the pasta should not be rinsed because you loose starch and flavor. However, in pasta salads, rinsing the pasta removes some of the extra starch that will cause it to stick together. And no one wants a salad with the pasta pieces stuck together. 4. Not using enough seasoning. All the pasta should be boiled in salted water and additional salt should be added to the rest of the ingredients. Salt enhances all the other flavors and makes them shine in every dish. 5. Not using seasonal, fresh ingredients. The best way to get the most flavor is to use seasonal, ripe, fresh veggies of good quality. 6. Not tasting the final product. You should always taste once the salad is ready. This way you can add more salt, acid (red wine vinegar or lemon juice), fat (oil) or spices and herbs to bring it to your desired taste.