FAQ

What’s the difference between pasta, macaroni, and noodles?

Pasta is a broad term that isn’t technically defined, but it commonly refers to food made from a combination of flour and water. Pasta can be made from wheat, rice, corn, or many other grains, and comes in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Macaroni is defined as food made from a combination of durum wheat and water, and can include sub-categories like enriched macaroni or whole wheat macaroni. There are more specific definitions of a few shapes, but for the most part, any shape of pasta made from durum wheat is macaroni. Noodles are pasta that includes egg, which gives them a fluffier texture than pasta.

 

How do I read the date code on a package of Pennsylvania Dutch® Noodles?

Our date code is set up in two different formats:

1.MMDDYY with the first two digits representing the month, the next two the date, and the last two the year. For example, 070116 would reference July 1, 2016.

2.DD MMM YYYY with the first two numbers representing the date, the next three representing the month, and the last four the year. For example, 01 JUL 2016 would reference July 1, 2016.

In both formats, the letter and number following the date code represent the shift and facility in which the product was made.

 

What does the “Best By” date really mean?
We recommend that our products be consumed by the date noted on the package as the “Best By” or “Best Before” date to guarantee freshness.

 

Are all the Pennsylvania Dutch® shapes interchangeable in recipes?
Noodle shapes can certainly be interchanged. However, the “right” noodle shape can complement a particular sauce and enhances the taste and appearance of the finished dish.