What is the difference between fresh and dried pasta?

You can make pasta if you have got flour and everything else it takes. It takes vegetables or cheese and you will be enjoying a hearty lasagna, tortellini or ravioli in under two hours. However, when you read some pasta recipes on the web, you are most likely to walk away with confusion. Ingredients, kneading times, weight vs. volume measurements and resting conditions are different for the recipes on different websites. 

So, how can you choose the best way? Pasta made by using just yolks, all-eggs pasta, pasta using nothing more than water, using Italian 00 flour, resting time of 15 minutes; what are you supposed to use and do? This taste and test strategy can waste hours. You might also start thinking that the perfect pasta does not exist. 

You see this variation in pasta recipes because this Italian dish comes in different shapes, sizes and textures. You can also find pasta in different colors and flavors. This is the reason why, for someone making pasta is very easy and for someone it is difficult. If you are not used to working with water and flour, making pasta can be an intimidating process. However, you simply need to work on the basic technique and this can be an achievable skill. 

You have the option of buying a box of pasta online. However, there is a difference between dry pasta and fresh pasta. Both come with different qualities and are for different tasks. 

All it takes is a combination of flour and eggs to make typical fresh, Italian-style pasta. Just mix flour and eggs into a pliable dough. Knead it, leave it to rest and then roll it. You can cut into strips. Or, you can make lasagna or stuffed pasta.

When you become a pro, depending on the kind of pasta you are making, you can adjust your basic dough recipe. You can make the basic dough and then try a variety of styles. You get fresh pasta to eat which is better than dried pasta in every aspect. The fresh pasta has eggy flavor, soft yellow hue and silky texture. It is tender and rich. 

Most of the times, dry pasta is made by mixing water and coarse wheat flour. Dried pasta is made for optimal storage. It is industrial mixed and shaped. It is dried at low temperatures. With this firmer, denser texture, it requires longer cooking times. 

Dried Pasta 

• Dried pasta is made using little more than semolina flour, salt, and water. You can store it at room temperature. 

• This pasta, especially from Italy, comes in many varieties. The consistency and flavor of this pasta is something you will fall in love with. 

• Due to its firm texture, dried pasta can hold up to the heartiest sauce as well. 

• When cooked, the shape of dried pasta doubles in size. One pound of pasta enough for four people. 

Fresh Pasta 

• As it is made using eggs and additional water, it is more tender as compared to dried pasta. And for this reason, it takes less time to cook fresh pasta. 

• The delicate texture of fresh pasta is best with light sauces.  

• One and a half pounds of this pasta is enough for four people.

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Italian Food Online Store Joined: September 20th, 2019