Pasta Storage

Pasta is a wonderfully versatile ingredient that can be used as a main element in an almost limitless number of dishes from around the world. In fact, because it is so versatile of a product, you can find multiple versions this item in just about every grocery store across the country, and around the world. The question though is how to store it once you have it. Well, there are several different methods of pasta storage that you can use to make sure you are able to enjoy your favorite dishes for a long time to come.

• Have the right tools. Proper pasta storage requires that you have the right tools for the job. Generally speaking, there are only two major types of tools that you will need to have in hand. Those two tools are a refrigerator (for cooked, and frozen, pasta), and an air tight container (for all kinds of pasta). Without these two items your pasta won't last very long at all.
• Packaged pasta. Perhaps one of the most easily stored forms of pasta is the ones that have already been prepared, and then frozen. If you purchase any of these, then the first thing that you need to do is read the instructions that come on the back of the package and make sure that you follow them. In addition, you should make yourself familiar with the "best used by" and "expiration" dates on the packaging. These dates will allow you to know when you need to get rid of the pasta, regardless of whether it has been frozen or not.
• Dry pasta. Dry pasta can easily be stored in an airtight container almost indefinitely. Typically, as long as the container allows no air to pass through, and it is out of direct sunlight, you can store the pasta for up to a year and allow it to still be good. Some examples of containers would be things like a pasta container, Tupperware, or even a freezer bag. Mark the date that you put the pasta into the container, so that you know when it was first stored and so you will know when it will no longer be good.
• Cooked pasta. Cooked pasta needs to be stored in an airtight container (usually a Tupperware or similar container) and then stored in the refrigerator. At most you should only store the cooked pasta for about two weeks after preparation. Make sure that you write down the date you cooked and then stored the pasta.
• Freeze it. As long as you store pasta in the same type of container as listed above, you can freeze it. You can freeze and reuse pasta for up to six months (while it is possible to use it later than that, I wouldn't recommend it) so make sure that you write down the freeze date, and keep an eye on it.