Fresh vs. Dry Pasta: The Differences and When to Use Which
If you are wondering what is the difference between dried and fresh pasta, then you are at the right place since this is the topic we we will be exploring in the following sections. There are many recipes which require fresh pasta and at the same time some recipes work well when you use dried pasta. However, before preparing any dish you need to have clarity about type of pasta to use so that you can prepare the best dish for your family and guests.
By having a clear idea about their differences you will know when to use a particular type of pasta. So, let us first understand the differences between the two and then we will look at when to use a particular type of pasta.
Difference Between Dried and Fresh Pasta
Both dried and fresh pastas use different ingredients. Let us go through the details here.
Dried Pasta
Dried pasta is prepared using a specific type of dough and does not use eggs.
Fresh Pasta
Fresh pasta is prepared using eggs and flour are the primary constituents.
Thus, it is clear from above details that both utilize unique preparations for producing their particular textures, colors, and taste. However, you need to be aware of the fact that a majority of pasta shapes we are familiar with can be made only using dried past
The Differences Between Dried And Fresh Pasta
Dried Pasta
It is made using semolina flour, salt, and water.
It can be stored for a long time.
Dried pasta has firmness allowing it to work well with different sauces.
This type of pasta doubles up in shape after being cooked.
Fresh Pasta
It contains additional water and eggs.
Compared to dry pasta, it is more tender and gets cooked in almost half of the time.
Having a delicate texture, it is ideal for dairy and cream-based sauces.
It is a lot more smoother compared to dried pasta.
It costs more and requires refrigeration.
When we should utilize dried pasta?
Dried pasta has a firm structure which helps it stand up to the needs of heavier sauces that have greater number of ingredients. Examples of dry pasta include spaghetti, linguine, etc. All of these dried pastas work well with tomatoes sauces as well as ingredients such as meat, beans, chopped vegetables, olives, oils, etc.
When to utilize fresh pasta?
The aim is not to serve fresh pasta al dente. Rather, the focus is on preparing fresh pasta to be tender and velvety. Fresh pasta works well with delicate sauces which utilize whole milk or butter as base. Some of the common fresh pastas include pappardelle, tagliatelle, etc.
To conclude, we can say that dried as well as fresh pasta have their own place in the kitchen and it's up to you to decide which type of pasta you want to use for a certain recipe. So, get creative and prepare delicious pasta recipes using