Pasta
Dried pasta is a pantry staple made from durum wheat semolina and water. Different shapes aren't just decorative — they hold different sauces. Long thin pasta (spaghetti) pairs with oil or light sauces. Tubes and ridges (penne rigate) catch thick, chunky sauces.
Where to Find It
Pasta and grains aisle. Dried pasta in boxes or bags. Fresh pasta in the refrigerated section near deli meats and fresh sauces. Gluten-free options are usually on the same aisle or in a natural/specialty section.
How to Pick a Good One
Look for rough, matte texture — that's bronze-die pasta which holds sauce better than smooth, shiny pasta. De Cecco, Rummo, and Garofalo are excellent grocery store brands. Match the shape to your sauce: thin sauce = long pasta, chunky sauce = short shapes with ridges.
How to Store
Dried: pantry in original packaging, indefinitely. Fresh: refrigerate and use by the date (usually 5-7 days), or freeze for up to 2 months. Cooked: refrigerate in a sealed container for 3-5 days — toss with a little oil to prevent sticking.
Shelf life: Dried: 1-2 years (safe indefinitely). Fresh: 5-7 days refrigerated. Cooked: 3-5 days refrigerated.
Prepping Tips
Use a big pot with lots of water (4-6 quarts per pound). Salt the water generously — it should taste like the sea. Do NOT add oil to the water. Stir in the first minute to prevent sticking. Cook 1 minute less than the package says for al dente. Always save a cup of pasta water before draining — the starch helps bind sauces.
Substitutions
Chickpea or lentil pasta
Equal amountGluten-free, higher protein. Slightly different texture. Don't overcook.
Rice noodles
Equal amountGluten-free. Different texture. Best for Asian-style dishes.
Zucchini noodles (zoodles)
2 medium zucchini per 8oz pastaLow-carb. Very different texture. Sauté briefly — don't boil.
Common Uses
Frequently Asked Questions
How much pasta per person?
2 ounces (56g) of dried pasta per person as a main dish. That's about the diameter of a quarter when you hold a bunch of spaghetti. For a side dish, use 1-1.5 ounces. Dried pasta roughly doubles in weight when cooked.
What does al dente mean?
Italian for 'to the tooth.' It means the pasta is cooked through but still has a slight firmness when you bite it — not mushy, not crunchy. Cook 1 minute less than the package time and taste-test. Al dente pasta finishes cooking in the sauce.
Should you rinse pasta after cooking?
No — rinsing washes away the surface starch that helps sauce cling to the pasta. The only exception is for cold pasta salad, where you want to stop the cooking and prevent clumping.
Recipes Using Pasta
4 recipes in our collection use pasta.
Nutrition
Per 2 oz dry / 1 cup cooked (56g dry)
Key Nutrients