The best Italian pasta brands use high-quality durum wheat and pure water, resulting in exceptional flavor.
Established Brands with Traditional Methods
- Founded in 1877, Barilla sources premium wheat and uses traditional methods for excellent taste. Their pasta has various shapes.
- De Cecco, established in 1886, also carefully selects durum wheat. Both widely available.
- Organic Baronia stands out for its sustainability.
Other excellent brands include:
- Rummo
- La Molisana
- Garofalo
- Voiello
The perfect pasta holds sauce yet remains firm cooked al dente.
Ronzoni’s Current Challenges
Ronzoni Smart Taste advertises more fiber and calcium. Some products have vegetables. Garden Delight has decent flavor. However, consumers often prefer other brands over Ronzoni. Many say Ronzoni pasta quality has declined over the years.
I tried Ronzoni Smart Taste spaghetti. It looked and felt like regular spaghetti. The taste had no difference from normal spaghetti. Ronzoni Smart Taste took a bit longer to cook but tasted great.
Choosing the Right Pasta
When choosing pasta, look for:
- Rough texture from bronze dies
- Pale color from slow drying
- A high protein percentage
- Coarse semolina
The perfect pasta holds sauce in its shape yet remains firm when cooked al dente.