Default portions (editable)
The calculator starts from 100 g of dried pasta per adult and 60 g per child for a main dish, 60 g and 40 g for a side, and 150 g and 90 g of fresh pasta. These are planning defaults, not nutritional advice; change them to match your household.
Worked example
Four adults and two children eating dried pasta as a main need 520 g; with a 10% allowance that is 572 g, or two 500 g packs. The same group eating pasta as a side needs 352 g, one pack. Fresh pasta for a main comes to 858 g, four 250 g packs.
Adjust for the menu
Rich sauces and substantial additions reduce the pasta needed; pasta as the only course needs more. Known appetites are better evidence than any average.
Cook only what can be served well
Large batches stick or cool while waiting. For events, plan pan and water capacity and serving time as well as dry weight.
Practical checklist
- Keep a little dry pasta in reserve.
- Plan by dry weight, not cooked weight.
- Change the portion fields rather than the allowance to reflect appetite.
