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Last updated: 21 January 2021
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We test and compare 24 spaghettis from brands including Barilla, San Remo and Zafarelli to find the best based on nutrition and cooking performance.

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  • Our pasta buying guide highlights the best performing and most nutritious spaghetti, explains the nuances of various pasta ingredients, shapes and numbers and provides a recipe for spaghetti bolognese.
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How we test

Products

We tested 24 shelf-stable durum wheat spaghettis – both regular and wholemeal varieties – that are available in major supermarket chains. We excluded size/shape variations (e.g. thin/thick/spaghettini/spaghettoni, 'quick cook', tubular, linguine), egg pasta and wheat-free pasta.

Price is as purchased in Sydney stores (not on special) in September 2020. 

Testing

Spaghetti was cooked in a large pot of boiling water using the standard manufacturer’s instruction for pasta – a ratio of 1 litre water to 100g pasta, for the time specified on the pack. It was stirred when water came back up to a boil, at 5 minutes, then again to 2 minutes before the end of cooking time (if longer than 10 minutes).

Once cooking time was reached, spaghetti was drained, and each sample was assessed for a) degree of cooking/’doneness’ at labelled cook time (which also took into consideration whether strands were separate or clumped) and b) any sticking to the pan once drained.

Scores

The CHOICE Expert Rating is made up of 50% performance (80% degree of cooking, 20% sticking) and 50% nutrition (based on the Health Star Rating, calculated from the details in the nutrition information panel and converted to a percentage). 

We recommend spaghetti with a CHOICE Expert Rating of 90% or more.


Matthew Steen
By Rachel Clemons
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Brand

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List of brands we tested in this review.

    Price

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    Pack price as purchased in Sydney stores (not on special) in September 2020

    enter value/s in increments of 1 between 0.79 and 3

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    Price per 100g

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    Based on the pack price online for Sydney stores (not on special) in June, 2024.

    enter value/s in increments of i between 0.16 and 0.6

    Performance score

    Expand to view more details.

    Once the labelled cooking time was reached, spaghetti was drained, and each sample was assessed for a) degree of cooking/’doneness’ at labelled cook time, which also took into consideration whether strands were separate or clumped (80% of performance score) and b) any sticking to the pan once drained (20% of performance score).

    enter value/s in increments of i between 52 and 100

    Nutrition score

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    The nutrition score is based on the product's Health Star Rating displayed on the pack or calculated from the details in the nutrition information panel, and converted to a percentage.

    enter value/s in increments of i between 80 and 100

    Wholemeal

      Organic

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      Certified organic as per label on pack.

        Shop Ethical rating

          Included in this review

          Members-only access
          • Shop Ethical rating
          • Recommended
          • CHOICE Expert Rating
          • Performance score
          • Nutrition score
          • Price
          • Pack size (g)
          • Organic
          • Wholemeal
          • Gluten free
          • Price per 100g
          • Energy per 100g (kJ)
          • Protein per 100g (g)
          • Fat per 100g (g)
          • Saturated fat per 100g (g)
          • Sugars per 100g (g)
          • Fibre per 100g (g)
          • Sodium per 100g (mg)
          • Ingredients
          • Percentage of Australian ingredients
          • Country of origin statement
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