Pasta

Dried pasta is a popular food to keep in the cupboard for those quick and easy meals when you are short of time and it’s a great food to use in a meal when using up leftover veg. It’s made from durum wheat and you can buy it in all shapes and sizes. You can make fresh pasta at home and this is made using flour, water and eggs.

How to store

How to store fresh and dried pasta

Store dry pasta in its original pack, sealed with a clip, or in an airtight container in a cool dry place. Fresh pasta should be stored in the fridge. Always follow on-pack guidance.

Freezing pasta

Fresh and cooked pasta can be frozen for up to four weeks.

Storing cooked pasta

Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Pasta Top tips

How to freeze and defrost

To freeze: Cooked too much pasta? Rinse it in cold water and freeze in meal-sized portions.

To defrost: When you take food / drink out of the freezer, it’s important to defrost it safely. Don’t defrost at room temperature. Use a microwave on the defrost setting directly before reheating or plunge portions straight into boiling water.

Be fabulous with leftovers

Leftover cooked pasta

Why not use leftover pasta to make a delicious pudding? Place cooked pasta in a greased oven dish, beat two eggs well, add double cream and strawberry jam, and pour evenly onto the pasta and bake at 180 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream or leftover whipped cream.

Buying tips

When buying fresh pasta, buy the right pack size for your needs. Think about whether you’ll get through the whole pack before the use by date and how long you have to use the food once the pack has been opened. If you’re not going to eat it all in time, freeze for later.

Perfect portions

Use our portion calculator for a quick and simple way to check how much of this food to serve at mealtimes.

Use portion calculator

Valuing your Pasta beyond the price tag

Goodness in food

Your food is more than its shape, colour and price. Your food has an important role to play to help keep you healthy and with enough energy to live your life how you wish to.

Wholewheat pasta contains fibre which helps with digestion.
Pasta is a source of carbohydrate which the body needs to produce energy.

Food story

By the time your food arrives in your home, it’s already been on quite a journey starting with how it’s made or grown and how your food reaches the supermarket.

So please help our food to finish its story in the most sustainable way, ensuring the planet’s resources that’s already used are put to good use. Take care of your food when it’s in your home and ensure every edible morsel is eaten - and that your food doesn’t end up in the bin!

Why not try these delicious recipes to use up Pasta

Spicy pepper and sausage pasta sauce

This is a useful basic recipe that the kids will love and takes no time to cook. You could bulk it out with more veggies such as carrots, baked beans, broccoli florets, chopped green beans or peas.