whole wheat pasta

By dyannucci

cooks illusttrated recoemdations

Ingredients

• whole wheat pasta

Preparation

Step 1

Recommended
Bionaturae Organic 100% Whole Wheat Spaghetti

Tasters lauded this 100 percent whole-wheat spaghetti for its "earthy," "wheaty," "nutty," "full" flavor, which was "heartier than white pasta, without being too wheaty." It also boasted a "pleasantly chewy,' "firm" texture. Its "good blend of whole-wheat flavor and regular-pasta texture" complemented the pesto and didn't overwhelm the marinara.
100 7 grams 6 grams Organic whole durum flour $3.49 for 16 ounces

Recommended
Heartland Perfect Balance Spaghetti

This spaghetti earned accolades for its "buttery," "smooth," "springy," "firm" texture. Only 21 percent whole grain, it tasted "the most like white pasta" of any in the lineup, serving as a "neutral" background for marinara and pesto. But tasters wondered, "Is this really whole wheat?"
21 7 grams 3 grams Enriched durum semolina, whole wheat durum flour Discontinued

Recommended
Barilla Plus Multigrain Spaghetti

It's no surprise that this spaghetti "doesn't taste like whole wheat pasta," as it contains no whole grains. Tasters enjoyed the "mildly nutty, wheaty" taste that was "similar to white pasta," along with its "firm, chewy" texture (though a few found the texture "stiff").
0 10 grams 4 grams Semolina, grain and legume flour blend (lentils, chickpeas, egg whites, spelt, barley, flaxseed, oat fiber, oats), durum flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid $2.50 for 14.5 ounces

Recommended with Reservations
Heartland Plus Spaghetti

"I think I like this because it doesn't taste like it's whole grain," commented one taster. Others liked the "mildly nutty flavor," which had a "neutral" flavor when paired with marinara and pesto. Its high protein content made it a "workout for your chompers."
0 9 grams 4 grams Enriched semolina, grain and legume flour blend (lentils, egg whites, oat fiber, flaxseed, whole grain barley flour, whole oat flour) Discontinued
Recommended with Reservations
Gia Russa 100% Whole Wheat Spaghetti

Tossed with pesto, this spaghetti was "nutty and robust," but plain, it was likened to eating "wheat germ" and tasted "a little sour." With marinara, the overpowering wheat flavor seemed "milder." Though it had "good chew," many felt it was "gritty," "like cardboard."
100 8 grams 5 grams Whole-wheat durum flour $2.99 for 16 ounces
Recommended with Reservations
DaVinci 100% Whole Wheat Spaghetti

This spaghetti had "good flavor," but "not much whole-wheat flavor." When paired with marinara and pesto, it had a "neutral," "subtle wheat taste," but tasters couldn't get past the "gummy," "doughy," "sticky" texture: "Mushy, mushy, mushy!"
100 7 grams 5 grams Whole durum wheat semolina $3.99 for 12 ounces
Recommended with Reservations
Barilla Whole Grain Spaghetti

Its heavy "bran" flavors were "not terrible," but made this "hippie-food" spaghetti taste "more like oats than wheat." The "skinny" strands cooked up "mealy," and "mushy." Tasters commented that its "sandpaper," "gritty," "stale" texture was "like old bread."
51 7 grams 6 grams Whole durum wheat flour, semolina, durum wheat flour, oat fiber $1.39 for 13.25 ounces
Recommended with Reservations
Mueller's Whole Grain Spaghetti

The crystallized cane juice in this spaghetti gave it a "pronounced sweetness," like "honey-wheat bread," overpowering the marinara and pesto. It also tasted slightly "sour" and "rancid." Its "wallpaper-paste" texture was like "eating shaggy carpet."
85 8 grams 5 grams Whole grain wheat, whole grain brown rice, whole grain oats, wheat gluten, crystallized cane juice, soybean oil, natural flavoring, wheat bran $2.19 for 12 ounces
Recommended with Reservations
Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat Pasta Blend

Though this spaghetti's "healthy, earthy" flavor appealed to a few, it overwhelmed the majority. Some detected a "mildly fishy" flavor as well as the taste of "stale vitamins." The "chewy, gummy noodles stick to my teeth," complained one taster.
63 7 grams 5 grams Durum whole wheat flour and semolina blend, whole flaxseed meal, wheat fiber, thiamine mononitrate, niacin, riboflavin, iron, folic acid $2 for 13.25 ounces
Not Recommended
Deboles Organic Whole Wheat Spaghetti Style Pasta

This spaghetti was "gritty," "chalky," and "sour," with a "sharp, musty flavor," that didn't "play nicely" with marinara sauce. The texture was so "coarse," "dry," and "grainy" that it was "like very finely grated sawdust going down your throat." An "uncooked vegetable taste" put it at the bottom of our list.
28 7 grams 5 grams Organic durum whole wheat flour, organic Jerusalem artichoke flour $2.29 for 8 ounce