Appearance: When Shopping for pasta look for a golden, amber color - a sign of good quality wheat - versus whitish, reddish or grayish hues. Pasta that adheres to high-quality standards should also have fewer specs (blackish marks) or impurities.
Bite: Good pasta should cook “al dente” every time for the best meal experience. “Al dente,” which means “to the tooth” in Italian, simply means that the finished pasta should be firm when it is ready to be eaten.
Clarity: Pasta that is made with the highest-quality durum wheat should not release a lot of starch in the cooking water. Look to make sure the cooking water is clear versus cloudy - an indicator that excess starch is being released, which usually results in sticky, clumpy pasta.
Doesn't break, clump or stick: Pasta made with the highest-quality durum wheat should not break, clump or stick when cooking. Serve immediately to ensure the best meal experience.
Elasticity: Pasta, particularly long cuts, should be springy and lively, not limp, and should always hold its shape.
