Business/Company Related Questions
Product Related Questions
Cooking Related Questions
Nutrition Related Questions
Business/Company Related Questions
Where is Barilla pasta made – in the United States or Italy?
Barilla Pasta that is sold in the United States is made in our plant in Ames, Iowa with a few exceptions. Barilla Tortellini and Barilla Oven Ready Lasagne are made in Italy. Our Barilla Italy products state “Product of Italy, Distributed by Barilla America, Inc." on the packaging.
Barilla opened the Ames plant in the fall of 1998. The Barilla family was very concerned about maintaining Barilla’s high quality standards in the new plant. Consequently, the machines used in our Ames plant are the same as used in our plant in Parma, Italy. The recipe and the wheat blend are the same as that used in Parma Italy. Barilla purchases its wheat from around the world, ending up with the best wheat available.
Is Barilla a publicly held company?
Barilla is privately owned by the Barilla family. The fourth generation of the Barilla family is as committed to producing quality and innovative products today as its great-great grandfather was over 125 years ago.
Where is Barilla Corporate Headquarters located?
Barilla’s corporate offices are located in Parma, Italy. Barilla America's corporate offices are located at:
Barilla America, Inc.
1200 Lakeside Drive
Bannockburn, IL 60015
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Product Related Questions
What is durum wheat and why is it used to make Barilla pasta?
Durum wheat is a hard wheat that when milled properly produces high quality semolina flour. It is high quality because semolina has proteins in it that contain elevated quantities of gluten and glutenin. These attributes allow Barilla Pasta to maintain its cooking consistency, flavor and texture.
How do you judge good quality pasta?
The quality of pasta is very dependent upon the kind of wheat used and the manufacturing process. Barilla uses a blend of the finest durum wheat to produce the semolina that makes our pasta. Barilla’s innovative milling process and methods assure the high quality and excellent cooking properties of our pasta.
Are there other ways to tell good quality pasta?
Yes, you can tell just by looking at it. Good pasta will have a unique yellow color. Properly grown, stored, milled and dried, pasta will have very few impurities such as black specks, white spots or cracks. During cooking, the pasta will not clump together or form surface stickiness, and it should have good texture and elasticity upon chewing. Visually the pasta should be an amber yellow color, uniform in size and shape, and without grayish or reddish shades. Quality pasta will have a pleasant taste and aroma, and always cook al dente.
What is a recommended serving size, and is this for cooked or uncooked pasta?
The recommended serving size is 2 ounces of uncooked pasta, which equals approximately 1 cup of cooked pasta.
How should pasta be stored?
Pasta should be stored in a cool, dry place such as a cupboard or pantry.
What does "best if used" by mean?
This is the date on our packaging that Barilla recommends the product be consumed by. Past this date, Barilla cannot guarantee the product’s freshness.
Can pasta be frozen?
We do not recommend freezing dry pasta; it is meant to be stored in a dry place. Freezing will not extend the shelf life of pasta and can potentially expose the pasta to humidity which may cause mold to form. Freezing cooked pasta is possible as long as it is combined with a sauce. The pasta may become dried out if sufficient sauce is not added.
The music playing in the background during the Barilla television commercials is so beautiful. Who is the artist singing and what is the name of the song?
The artist singing in our television commercial is Andrea Bocelli. The song is “Mille Lune Mille Onde” (A Thousand Moons, A Thousand Waves) from his CD Cieli Di Toscana.
Does Barilla Pasta contain dairy products?
Barilla's durum wheat semolina Pasta does not contain any dairy products. The lines used to produce our pastas are not used to make any products containing dairy products.
Does Barilla Pasta contain nuts, nut products, or soy products?
Barilla's durum wheat semolina Pasta does not contain any nuts, nut products or soy. The lines used to produce our pastas are not used to make any products containing nuts or soy.
What is the refrigerator life of an opened jar of sauce?
Barilla recommends storing an opened jar of sauce in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. There are no preservatives added to Barilla Sauces. The remaining sauce may be frozen at any time during the 5-7 days; simply transfer the sauce to a freezer-safe container and it will be good for up to 3 months.
What are the natural flavorings in Barilla Sauces?
The natural flavoring in each jar of Barilla Sauce is a water soluble extract of the herbs used to flavor the sauce. For example, the natural flavoring found in Barilla Basilico (Tomato & Basil) is basil flavor.
Which Barilla Sauce goes best with which Barilla Pasta shape?
Barilla’s tomato based sauces are “flexible” and diverse; they go very well with either long or short pasta shapes. For a detailed explanation, please click on the Barilla Pasta & Sauce Pairing Guide.
Are there preservatives in Barilla Sauces?
Barilla Sauces are completely preservative free. The special processing method that Barilla uses for our sauces guarantees an absolutely natural product.
Do Barilla Sauces contain MSG?
Barilla Sauces do not contain any form of MSG.
Is Barilla Sauce gluten free?
Barilla does not add gluten to the raw materials used to make our sauces. At the present time, however, we cannot guarantee that our sauces are absolutely gluten free.
What is the difference between Tortellini and Tortelloni?
The only difference is the size of the pasta. Tortelloni are slightly larger (5 grams) than the Tortellini (2 grams). Tortellini comes in Three Cheese and Cheese and Spinach flavors. It was made smaller so that it would be versatile in making meals for young children as well as adults.
The difference between the two shapes also really depends on usage. Traditionally, tortellini is often cooked in a simple broth – “Tortellini in Brodo”. Tortellini is also great with just a little olive oil and freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. Tortelloni, due to its larger size, can be used with more substantial butter-based, dairy-based or smooth vegetable-based sauces.
What is the origin of Tortellini?
Legend claims that Tortellini was inspired by the goddess Venus’ navel. An Italian medieval legend tells how Venus and Zeus, weary one night after their involvement in a battle between Bologna and Modena, arrive at a tavern in a small town on the outskirts of Bologna. After eating a hearty dinner and becoming slightly drunk, they decide to share a bedroom. The innkeeper, captivated after watching them, creeps to their room and peeks through the keyhole of the bedroom door. However, all he can see through the keyhole is the naval of Venus. This vision leaves him spellbound – so much so that he immediately rushes to the kitchen and creates a pasta inspired by Venus’ navel…and so was born the Tortellini.
What are the natural flavorings in Tortellini?
Our latest pasta product is an exquisite new line of Tortellini, with sophisticated Italian flavors. Inside every mouth-watering bite, you will find distinctive natural flavor notes of parmesan, spinach, asparagus, porcini mushrooms, gorgonzola or garlic, all perfectly blended with the smooth texture of the richest ricotta cheese.
Is the cheese in Tortellini pasteurized?
Yes. The process used to prepared our Tortellini involves pasteurization of the cheeses in our fillings.
How is Barilla Tortellini different from other tortellini products?
Barilla’s shelf-stable Tortellini is a perfect balance between a thin, delicate layer of pasta and a flavorful, authentic Italian filling. The pasta complements the filling and does not overpower it. Barilla Tortellini is not chewy or doughy, and does not break or fall apart during cooking.
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Cooking Related Questions
What is the best way to cook pasta?
Always use plenty of water when cooking pasta – at least one quart of water for every quarter pound of pasta. Be sure to use a large enough pot to allow the pasta plenty of room to cook properly. The typical procedure for cooking pasta is to bring 6-8 quarts of water to a boil; add salt; add the pasta, and cook according to the package directions.
Should salt be added to cooking water?
Salt is always used in preparing pasta in Italy. A touch of salt in the water brings out the flavor of the pasta. Sea salt is recommend since it is a natural product that enhances the flavor without creating salty-tasting pasta. If you are on a sodium restricted diet, the salt may be omitted.
Should oil be added to the cooking water?
Adding oil to the pasta water does not stop pasta from sticking together. Using Barilla’s high quality pasta and using the correct proportion of water to pasta ratio will prevent the pasta from sticking together.
Why is cooking pasta al dente so important?
It is important for two reasons: taste and digestion. When pasta is cooked al dente the flavor remains and is not cooked out. Some studies suggest that al dente pasta is easier to digest and eating overcooked pasta requires the digestive system to work harder.
Should pasta be rinsed?
Pasta should not be rinsed after cooking. This method was utilized to rinse excess starch off the pasta. When poor quality wheat is used, the pasta releases too much starch and sticks together. Because Barilla pasta is made with high quality durum wheat, the natural starches released from our pasta complement the pasta meal. These starches allow the sauce to adhere to the pasta better.
Can Barilla Oven Ready Lasagne be prepared in advance?
Yes, Barilla Oven Ready Lasagne can be prepared in advance. However, please be aware that preparing food too far in advance is one of the leading causes of food borne illness. We recommend preparing lasagne no more than 24 hours in advance, holding it in the refrigerator at or below 40 degrees F. When cooking lasagne from the refrigerator, add at least an extra 20 to 30 min of cooking time. The internal temperature must reach at least 160 degrees F.
To freeze Barilla Oven Ready Lasagne, we recommend that you do not bake the lasagne before freezing for best results. You may assemble the lasagne in a freezer safe/oven safe container, cover and freeze. When you are ready to cook the lasagne, defrost in the refrigerator for 24 hours. When cooking, increase the cook time to 2 to 2 ½ hours. Make sure the internal temperature reaches 160 to 165 degrees.
How do you prepare Tortellini?
Preparing Barilla Tortellini is incredibly simple and foolproof. Just add the Tortellini to boiling water and let it cook for 10 to 11 minutes. To finish, you can add sauce or simply drizzle some extra virgin olive oil and grate some fresh Parmesan on top to create a delicious, authentic Italian dish. Another delicious option is to cook the Tortellini in broth, such as chicken broth.
How many packages would you recommend preparing?
It depends on the number of guests you are expecting, but each 8 ounce package yields 2 to 3 servings; each family size package yields 4 to 5 servings.
How do you prepare a pasta salad using Barilla Tortellini?
To make a Tortellini salad, cook the Tortellini, drain (do not rinse in water) and let cool uncovered at room temperature for 10 minutes. Refrigerate for 30 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients for the salad. Add these ingredients to the Tortellini, mix well and serve. We do not recommend making a Tortellini salad in advance.
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Nutrition Related Questions
Is the nutritional information listed on each box of pasta for cooked or uncooked pasta?
This information is for 2 ounces of uncooked pasta.
Is Barilla Pasta a healthy food?
Yes. Barilla Pasta is a good source of thiamin, folic acid, iron, riboflavin and niacin. Pasta is also low in sodium and fat, and is a cholesterol-free food. When eaten in proper amounts and combined with healthy accompaniments, pasta can provide the foundation for a healthy, low-fat diet. Healthy accompaniments include fiber- and nutrient-rich vegetables, low-fat meats, fish and poultry.
Is pasta fattening?
No. Pasta itself is not fattening. Pasta, a low-fat food, becomes fattening only when it is consumed in quantities larger than the body requires and/or when it is combined with large amounts of fat-rich ingredients such as oil, butter, cream, cheese, sausage, meat, etc.
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