What is Pasta?

Pasta is a food product made from a select group of wheats that have been milled through a special grinding process. In all of its shapes and sizes, pasta is manufactured by adding water to this flour and forming it into the variety of pasta cuts that you are familiar with. The pasta industry generally categorizes pasta cuts by long (spaghetti), short (elbow macaroni), or specialty shapes (rotini), and those made with egg (egg noodles).

The best pasta is made from 100% semolina from hard amber durum wheat. Since the best wheat makes the best pasta, you get unsurpassed cooking qualities, which translates into pasta that won't break down when it's cooked. All varieties of CATELLI Pasta are made from 100% semolina from hard amber durum wheat.

Secrets for Perfect Pasta!

For the best pasta try these easy tips:

Use plenty of water. This helps the pasta cook evenly and prevents it from sticking together. If you use enough water, there is no need to add oil. Adding salt to the water only bumps up the sodium content and will not make the water boil any faster.

Set the timer. Pasta tastes best when it is cooked to the "al dente" stage so that it is tender but firm. Overcooked pasta will be mushy. If you're planning to further bake or stir fry the pasta, then slightly undercook it. The cooking time depends on the shape and size of the pasta, so check the package directions.

Shake, shake, shake. Drain the pasta and gently shake in the colander to remove as much of the water as possible. Toss the drained pasta with some sauce or oil. Only rinse the pasta if you plan to serve it cold or if you need to handle it, as with lasagna. Read the package cooking directions.

Reheating. To reheat leftover plain pasta in the microwave, place in a microwave-safe dish with 1 to 2 tablespoons water; cover and cook on 100% power (high) 30 seconds to 1 minute or until hot. Or, immerse pasta in boiling water up to 1 ½ minutes.

*Egg noodles, when cooked, do not increase cup-per-cup in volume as much as other pasta cuts, so the yield will be slightly less.

Pasta Nutrition
Pasta is a good source of complex carbohydrates, and a moderate source of protein, containing essential vitamins and minerals. Pasta is low in sodium, fat, and sugar, and except for egg noodles it contains no cholesterol. Non-egg pasta contains 210 calories per 2-ounce dry portion while egg noodles contain only slightly more calories - 220 calories per 2-ounce dry portion. In Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating, pasta serves as one of the building blocks of a healthy diet.

Pasta Storage
Pasta in its uncooked, dry form can be stored for up to 18 months in a cool, dry place.