Judging by archaeological finds and other historical data, pasta in its modern form was invented in Italy. It is not known for certain when exactly this happened, but scientists are inclined to believe that these products made from dried dough first gained popularity during the Middle Ages. They were the staple food of sailors who went on long voyages across the seas and oceans. Over time, they began to spread throughout the world and even today are among the essential products. In stores you can find pasta made from durum and soft wheat. We are recommended to buy products from durum varieties because they are healthier. But why is there soft pasta on sale if it does more harm than good?
There is a big difference between different types of pasta that you need to know. Source: fromprc.ru
Contents
- 1 How pasta is made
- 2 The difference between hard and soft pasta
- 3 Which pasta is the healthiest
- 4 What is soft pasta for
- 5 What are the groups of pasta
How pasta is made
Before we talk about the varieties of wheat for making pasta, it is worth briefly understanding how these products are made.
First of all, manufacturers sift the flour to remove dirt and obtain a uniform consistency. The refined flour is mixed with water and the ingredients are mixed in large mixers. The resulting dough is passed through a special apparatus (extruder) to give it the desired shape: spaghetti, penne, fusilli, and so on.
Millions of pasta are produced around the world every day. Source: saratov24.tv
After shaping, the pasta is dried. This process can take several hours or days, depending on the type of pasta and drying method. Then the pasta is cooled to room temperature and packaged in bags or boxes for sale.
The difference between hard and soft pasta
In Russia and many other countries you can buy hard or soft pasta wheat varieties.
Durum wheat is expensive because it is difficult to grow: it requires fertile soil, a warm climate and constant monitoring. Due to these conditions, such wheat contains more protein, which envelops the starch particles inside the seed. Due to this, the wheat turns out to be strong, and it takes more power and time to grind it. Pasta made from durum wheat is strong and almost does not stick together when cooked.
Pasta made from durum wheat is always better than products from soft varieties. Source: agroson.ru
Soft wheat is much cheaper because it is not particularly picky about environmental conditions. In addition, its yield is approximately 20% higher than that of durum wheat. Soft wheat is high in starch and low in protein, making it easy to grind. Consequently, pasta made from soft wheat varieties is less durable and may stick together when cooked.
Read also:Which foods have the longest shelf life in case of an apocalypse?
Which pasta is the healthiest
Pasta made from durum wheat is more expensive than from soft wheat. In addition, they are considered more healthy and nutritious.
Durum wheat pasta is high in fiber, vitamins, iron and other nutrients. It is also very high in protein – if you eat a serving of pasta, you can fill 30% of your daily requirement. If you have money, it is always better to buy durum wheat pasta, because it keeps you full longer and prevents you from gaining weight.
Poor-quality pasta quickly sticks together and often tastes bad. Source: krots.top
Soft wheat pasta contains more starch and fast carbohydrates. Because of this, they have a neutral taste, can sharply increase blood sugar levels and, if consumed frequently, can lead to excess weight gain.
Everyone should know this:Pasta is one of the essential products
Why do we need soft pasta
If hard pasta is better, why is soft pasta produced?
In fact, they are very popular because they are much cheaper. They also cook faster, which is very important when you are in a hurry. The lack of any distinct taste makes these pasta an ideal option if the dish is served with a particularly tasty sauce. In addition, they are still nutritious, and if consumed in moderation, they will not lead to anything bad.
Despite everything written above, pasta made from soft wheat also has advantages. Source: a5-express.ru
What types of pasta are there
On pasta packages it is always written what type of wheat they are made from. You can also find information about the pasta group on the labels.
Group A pastaare the highest quality and healthiest because they are precisely made from durum grades. They are often counterfeited, so you need to pay attention to the amount of protein: it should contain about 12 grams per 100 grams of pasta or more.
If you know about the groups of pasta, you can forget about confusion in stores. Source: novonews.ru
Group B pastais tasty and filling, but there are significantly fewer nutrients in them.
Group B pasta > the cheapest. They are the least nutritious, but they cost the least and are prepared very quickly.
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