Barilla be lying. I make pasta probably 3 times a week and I always cook it to Al Dente.
The box for Barilla Al Bronzo Penne says “Al dente perfection in 13-15 minutes” this is absolutely not true and if you follow these directions you will have mushy pasta far from Al Dente. The true cooking time for this pasta to come out al dente is 11 mins, no more no less. I notice this is a common theme with Barilla where their suggested al dente times are never correct. Dececco on the other hand displays accurate al dente cooking times for their pasta. Does this bother anybody else or just me? 😂😭
by MitraJordan
10 Comments
The intensity of a boil affects cook times. I find that if you turn down to just above a simmer once the water comes back to a boil after adding the pasta rather then letting it go at a full roiling boil, then the times tend to be accurate. No reason you can’t cook at the higher boil (other than avoiding splashing, etc) but just that the times are more accurate.
No, because I wouldn’t buy that product if it was the last macaroni on earth.
I’ve found that the lower end of the range that the manufacturer gives on the package is usually a pretty good benchmark. But sometimes it’s way, way off in one direction or another. You just have to taste as you go along.
Barilla is an awful brand. I would just not buy if you have any other better options. Honestly, at the quality and price point, I would go for generic supermarket brand over Barilla
We used to complain a lot (here in Italy at least) that cooking times where hard to find on the package. Now that they’re visible, they’re just wrong. BTW I agree, even 13 minutes are way too much for penne
Yes for sure
Not at all. Cooking just isn’t so precise. There are variables in all of it, plus do you drain your pasta at a set time without tasting a piece? I taste everything
I used to carefully cook Barilla pasta in less time than displayed because of this, so you’re not alone. Think you’re right, they don’t quite display the times well. I find other brands are more accurate with their Al Dente cooking time than Barilla
Fast Rolling boil? Yep these times are off.
Gentle boil, hard simmer; correct times.
I live in the Rockies and need 17 minutes for a pasta this thick to reach al dente.