Many home cooks are loyal to specific Italian name brands of pasta. They believe these brands offer superior taste and texture. While some premium pastas are exceptional, shoppers often overlook the incredible value and quality of store-brand (private label) pasta. In many cases, store-brand pasta is not just cheaper; it can be nearly identical in quality to its more expensive, well-marketed counterparts. In fact, many blind taste tests have shown people can’t tell the difference. Understanding the pasta industry helps explain why. Here are eight things to know about why store-brand pasta often rivals or even “beats” the big names.
