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You are here: Home / product reviews / Barilla’s Pronto One Pan No Boil No Drain Pasta – Penne

Barilla’s Pronto One Pan No Boil No Drain Pasta – Penne

July 19, 2016 by Suzie the Foodie 15 Comments

Barilla's Pronto On Pan No Boil No Drain Pasta - Penne

I was intrigued when I heard about Barilla’s new Pronto pasta. A pasta that you make in one pan, that does not require boiling or draining? What????

barilla

So I said yes to their offer to send me their penne, rotini and macaroni. Here is the photo on Instagram the moment they arrived.

Product Testing

Barilla's Pronto On Pan No Boil No Drain Pasta - Penne

To a large pan you are supposed to pour the whole box of pasta and cover with 3 cups of cold water. 

Barilla's Pronto On Pan No Boil No Drain Pasta - Penne

You are then supposed to cook on high stirring regularly until most of the water is absorbed, about 10 minutes. 

Barilla's Pronto On Pan No Boil No Drain Pasta - Penne

My “high” setting on my stove is way too hot to do this because I ran out of water way too soon and because of all that starch, the noodles really stuck to the bottom of the pan. 

Barilla's Pronto On Pan No Boil No Drain Pasta - Penne

Then you are suppose to top with your sauce. 

Barilla's Pronto On Pan No Boil No Drain Pasta - Penne

I had a beautiful spaghetti sauce leftover that I thought would be perfect for making this “pasta made easier” dish. 

Barilla's Pronto On Pan No Boil No Drain Pasta - Penne

Oh how everything stuck to the bottom! I had to let the pot sit overnight soaking and deal with all the gunk on the bottom the next day. This is easier?

Foodie Results

Barilla's Pronto On Pan No Boil No Drain Pasta - Penne

Because you cook the pasta until the water is either absorbed or evaporated, I did not season the water, which meant the pasta fell flat with lack of seasoning.

Honestly, how hard is it to boil pasta and then drain it and dump in a sauce? Also, how is having the pasta in a big pot on high in water for 10 minutes considered no-boil?!

Why is draining the pasta a bad thing? Draining it gets rid of the extra starch, cooking it in boiling water means you can season it and if you are left with a pot covered with starchy pasta that is stuck like cement… This was not easier! And it thoroughly pissed me off because the pasta that I could remove from the pot lacked flavour. I also resent having to stand around and stir it the whole time!

Easier my foodie a$$. As far as I am concerned, this is a turkey of a product. I give this zero out of five wooden spoons. It promised to make my life easier and instead it made it messier and less flavourful. 

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Filed Under: pasta, product reviews, product testing Tagged With: Barilla, no boil, no drain, one pan, pasta, Product Review, product testing, Pronto, Suzie the Foodie

Comments

  1. wayner says

    July 19, 2016 at 4:47 pm

    Grr . You get ’em girl !!! Seems to be a ‘pig in a pot’ LOL

    Reply
  2. Debra She Who Seeks says

    July 19, 2016 at 6:11 pm

    I had the same “no boil” question as you while I was reading this post. WTF, you’re boiling AND babysitting it! I won’t be bothering to try this product either.

    Reply
  3. Lucy says

    July 19, 2016 at 6:18 pm

    As I said…. NO boil? Thanks for giving this a “boil”. LOL

    Reply
  4. Janet Pole says

    July 19, 2016 at 7:11 pm

    Stupidity at its finest… No boil? What is that 10 minutes on high? A hot flash?

    Reply
  5. Jonnie says

    July 19, 2016 at 9:24 pm

    Thanks for the review! This is something I definitely would have tried if I saw it at the store but now I think I’ll pass.

    Reply
  6. Suzie the Foodie says

    July 20, 2016 at 7:51 pm

    Thanks for all the feedback everyone! Writing reviews like this are tough, I never say yes to a product that I think it going to be a disaster but this one really was. That said, the company wrote back very graciously about my review which says a lot.

    Reply
  7. The Happy Whisk says

    July 22, 2016 at 12:58 am

    Yikes!

    Reply
  8. Karla Sceviour says

    July 29, 2016 at 10:46 pm

    ummm,thats exactly my thoughts..lol..on high for 10 minutes IS boiling,isnt it?.lol

    Reply
    • Suzie the Foodie says

      July 30, 2016 at 6:04 pm

      Exactly Karla! Exactly…

      Reply
  9. Vicki says

    September 17, 2018 at 3:03 am

    So glad I read your thorough review as I was planning to try a recipe calling for this product. I would still like to try the recipe so I am wondering after your experience would you advise me to use the same amount of regular pasta (e.g. does 8oz dry “ no-boil” pasta equal 8oz regular pasta in volume after each are “ cooked”?
    Thank you😊

    Reply
    • Suzie the Foodie says

      September 17, 2018 at 9:26 pm

      It has been a while since I tried it Vicki but I do remember the pasta did bulk up quite a bit. I hope that helps!

      Reply
  10. Caroline says

    October 10, 2018 at 5:15 am

    I can totally see how this works for certain population though. I have tried it, and happened to like this pasta. In a scenario where we go camping and can’t bring a lot of water, nor is it very easy to wash dishes, the Pronto works fantastic, saves washing pots and pans, and not wasting water. Has nothing to do with being lazy, just sometimes working with what you got is difficult. Always have a real kitchen is awesome, but that is just not the case for some people, right;)?

    Reply
    • Catherine Veneri says

      July 14, 2019 at 6:38 am

      I love Barilla’s Pronto Pasta and am finding it harder and harder to find it in most major supermarkets. Please don’t discontinue it because of a few negative comments.

      Reply
  11. Larry Kevorkian says

    April 1, 2019 at 7:12 pm

    I WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE THE ONE PAN PASTA BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO FIND!!
    610-304-2788

    Reply
  12. Catherine Veneri says

    July 14, 2019 at 6:39 am

    I love Barilla’s Pronto Pasta and am finding it harder and harder to find it in most major supermarkets. Please don’t discontinue it because of a few negative comments.

    Reply

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