THE cost-of-living crisis has led to a shocking rise in the price of pasta with some packs increasing by a whopping 60 per cent.
Figures released yesterday by the Office for National Statistics show that store cupboard favourites such as oil, tea and pasta have all shot up.
9
9
So with prices soaring, is there still a way to tuck into the mealtime staple and keep it cheap?
Laura Stott tries 500g own-brand and low-cost supermarket dried spaghetti to find the best value for money, and gives marks out of five.
Just Essentials, 28p
9
A PROPER pound-stretcher, swapping to this 28p pack would amount to a real saving.
This spag has the addition of wheat flour to durum wheat and semolina, which slightly increases the starch in the cooking water but makes no difference to the taste.
The fibres are fine so you feel as though there is plenty to portion up on the plate.
Although they were a little sticky once out of the pan, this didn’t affect the flavour.
Watch the cooking time as I found 10-12 minutes was too long.
On a par with pricier pastas, and perfect to combat soaring costs.
RATING: 5
Most read in Money
M&S Food, 85p
9
I WAS pleasantly surprised that the M&S spaghetti came in costing less than some leading supermarkets, as this is a quality packet of strands hailing from authentic pasta makers in the Italian Alps.
The dried product was a more intense yellow colour than some others, but once cooked lost the vibrant hue.
The strands stayed firm without going soggy and kept a nice bite for cooking ‘al dente’ style.
Tasty with an oily sauce that’ll cling to the strands, like a simple pesto.
RATING: 3
Morrisons Savers, 30p
9
ANOTHER super-saver spaghetti that does the job perfectly well for a store-cupboard staple, while keeping more of your pennies in your purse.
The strands were a touch soft and rather fine, but there were no complaints from me about using it for everyday cooking.
It would be lovely with a carbonara sauce to mop up all the juices.
Do watch the cooking time though, as the 10-12 minutes recommended on the packet seems a bit too long for the pasta to be in the boiling water.
RATING: 3
Sainsbury’s, 95p
9
A PERFECTLY adequate bowl of spaghetti that I would be more than happy to eat again.
But this is not a pasta to get especially passionate or excited about.
These strands do the belly-filler job, but were rather thin and feeble, and a bit tasteless.
Once you coat them in sauce though, there’s nothing to complain about when whipping up a basic bowl of spag bol.
However, considering the price is higher than others, I’d hoped for better.
RATING: 2
Cucina, 75p
9
THERE are good ingredients in this Aldi own-brand staple – simply durum wheat, semolina and water.
The threads are extremely fine so you get plenty of servings out of a packet, although it does make the spaghetti a bit flimsier on the fork.
Not the best for twirling, and I would avoid creamier or very robust sauces with these delicate strands.
But I’d have no problem with keeping a packet of this in the cupboard as an everyday basic.
It’s a shame the price isn’t as budget as some others.
RATING: 3
Hearty Food Co, 23p,
9
THE lowest price tag of all the pastas I tried.
At 23p a packet, this is a whopping quarter of the price of some other supermarket spags.
Unbeatable value for money and makes a quality bowl of pasta, too.
Once smothered in a tasty, punchy sauce, there’s barely any difference between this and the more expensive offerings so it’s well worth trying a swap.
It only loses a point because the cooking instructions leave the thinner fibres slightly soggy.
Reducing the pan time would probably help.
RATING: 4
Lidl Baresa, 69p,
9
A BELLISSIMA bowl of pasta!
This is a top-notch spaghetti that might not be the most rock-bottom price, but is still cheaper than plenty of others – and the taste and quality were outstanding.
Perfect golden threads that cooked to the ideal ‘al dente’ – firm and slightly chewy – with a delicious, nutty authentic taste.
I’d happily eat a bowl of this spaghetti with nothing more than a little olive oil and a twist of black pepper topped with some cheese.
Not the cheapest overall, but in terms of quality for your money it’s a fab price.
RATING: 4
