Frequently Asked Questions

Please be advised that it is the policy of Winland Private Brands, Inc. not to accept unsolicited ideas from outside sources. We have on our staff many experts in food science and marketing, and they are constantly researching new product and marketing ideas. It is likely that your idea has already been considered, or has been implemented in the past, by our company and/or others. While we appreciate your comments about our products, we cannot accept suggestions for new products, advertising, or promotions from anyone outside our company.

Periodically, we offer coupons on various digital apps, local newspapers, on our packages, on our website, and at selected supermarkets. Still have a question? Contact us!

It is the policy of Winland Foods, Inc. to support non-profit organizations, which, in our opinion, serve to enhance the growth of the Company and its employees. The Company reserves the right to accept or deny requests for donations. All product donation requests must be made in writing on the organization’s letterhead and must state the purpose for the request and their status as a not for profit organization. Requests should be sent no less than 90 days in advance of the date they are to be received. An organization may receive up to four (4) cases per request during a 12 month period. Requests exceeding 4 cases require the approval of a senior manager. Arrangements must be made to pick up the donation as we do not deliver. If shipping is necessary, it is the responsibility of the organization making the request. We request that organizations who receive product donations use Winland Foods, Inc. branded banners and forward any publicity generated by the event to the Winland Foods Marketing Department. Still have a question? Contact us!

A delicious recipe is included on each package. More recipe ideas are available on our website. Still have a question? Contact us!

American Beauty Gluten Free^™ pasta is unique in three ways. While all gluten free pastas must be made with gluten free grains, our Gluten Free pasta is also produced in a dedicated gluten free facility. When the ingredients arrive at the facility, they are verified to be gluten free and then each step in the manufacturing process is strongly controlled in order to protect the product from gluten contamination. Second, our Gluten Free pasta is made from a unique blend of white rice, brown rice, corn and quinoa which gives it the benefit of tasting like white pasta and being smooth in texture. Many gluten free products are only made from one single gluten free grain. Whole grains is the other way we are unique. Unlike some competitors which are made of corn and/or white rice, American Beauty Gluten Free^™ pasta is made from a multigrain blend that provides you with 19 grams of whole grains per serving. Still have a question? Contact us!

Similar to white pasta, American Beauty Gluten Free^™ pasta has 200 calories per serving, is low in fat and has no sodium or cholesterol. Our Gluten Free pasta also has the same level of fiber as regular pasta. Still have a question? Contact us!

American Beauty Gluten Free^™ pasta is prepared much like regular white pasta (boil water, cook, drain and serve). Gluten free pastas are more sensitive than regular pasta, however, so be sure to use at least the recommended amount of water and rinsing the pasta with warm water after draining is also recommended. Still have a question? Contact us!

The Glycemic index for pasta is around 50 and is considered a low GI food. Still have a question? Contact us!

All of our nutritional information is based on an uncooked measurement since some pastas will double or even triple in volume. Still have a question? Contact us!

We counted an average of 68 strands per 2 oz serving. **You will need to multiply this amount per servings in a package for the entire amount. Still have a question? Contact us!

The powder we use is from vegetables. Still have a question? Contact us!

Soluble fiber is found in significant amounts in virtually all fruits and vegetables. Insoluble fiber is found mainly in whole wheat products, bran, and fibrous vegetables like carrots. Still have a question? Contact us!

Many American Beauty^® pasta products are Non-GMO Project Verified. Look for the Non-GMO Project Verification Seal on the package. As of February 18, 2015 there is no genetically modified wheat commercially grown in the United States.*

*Source: United States Department of Agriculture.

No, our pastas do not contain yeast. Still have a question? Contact us!

We buy it milled already. We have contracts with millers who in most cases are located right beside our plant. They feed the flour directly to our plants. Still have a question? Contact us!

We use conventionally grown wheat to make most varieties of American Beauty^® pasta. U.S. wheat farmers use U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved pesticides to protect wheat crops from pests. In applying pesticides, by law, farmers must adhere to the EPA-approved pesticide label for strict instructions on use. Still have a question? Contact us!

Yes, all of our pastas are refined. Note: Refined means free of impurities. Still have a question? Contact us!

The majority of our products are made from wheat so they will contain some amount of gluten. The only exception is our American Beauty Gluten Free^TM pasta, which is made in a dedicated gluten free facility. Still have a question? Contact us!

Our oven ready pasta products contain soy. All of our pasta packages include an accurate listing of the ingredients included. In addition, if any component of an ingredient is an allergen, that component is also listed on the package. Because peanuts/nuts/tree nuts are considered to be major allergens, they must be clearly listed on all products and/or contain a warning label stating the product may have come in contact with the allergen. We do not manufacture products with the above-listed allergens nor share facilities with companies that do, therefore, we are not required to list them on our packages. Still have a question? Contact us!

To location American Beauty Gluten Free^™ pasta products at a retailer near you, please check out our product locator. Still have a question? Contact us!

Our products contain wheat ingredients and are manufactured in facilities that use eggs. To determine allergens in your favorite product or for additional information, please refer to the pasta packaging. If you still have questions, please email us through the Contact Us page or call us at 800.730.5957.

All of our pasta products are Kosher.

We’re sorry to hear that you aren’t able to find your favorite product! Please check out our product locator to see which stores nearest you or online retailers carry this item.

While our egg pasta/noodles and vegetable pasta all have a shelf life of 2 years, our non-egg pasta has a shelf life of 3 years. Still have a question? Contact us!

We recommend storing uncooked pasta in a tightly sealed package or container in a cool, dry place (preferably a kitchen pantry) for best quality. Storing pasta anywhere outside of a controlled environment is not recommended. The age of the pasta can be determined by reading the date coding information on our packages. Still have a question? Contact us!

The best by date written as FEB1112HBYs, for example, reads as follows – February 11, 2012. The letters following the date are plant information. Still have a question? Contact us!

Cooked pasta can be refrigerated. Toss each pound of cooked pasta with 1 Tbsp of vegetable or olive oil, cover and refrigerate for up to three or four days. For best quality, refrigerate pasta and sauce in separate containers. Still have a question? Contact us!

Since cheese is a solid, the rules for cups and ounces will change. If you melt the cheese, then 8 oz. would be considered a cup. Solid cheese is measured by weight but when melted it will be measured by volume. Still have a question? Contact us!

We only recommend rinsing for cold salads to stop the cooking time. Rinsing pasta that is intended to be served in a hot dish with hot water will lower its temperature and may also cause more starch, which will make the pasta sticky. You should, however, rinse Gluten Free pasta with warm water. Still have a question? Contact us!

Either way is fine. But keep in mind that if pasta is cooked with broth, a cloudier broth will result. For hearty soups, this is usually not important. If cooking pasta in broth, be sure to start with an extra amount of broth since pasta will absorb roughly 25% of the liquid. Still have a question? Contact us!

We do not recommend American Beauty^® Quick Cook pasta for baked pasta dishes. For best results, use regular American Beauty pasta. Still have a question? Contact us!

If you are using a similar cut, you can substitute evenly. Otherwise, you will need to follow the cooking directions that are specified on the package of pasta you are substituting. Still have a question? Contact us!

We recommend only heating short cuts (such as elbows, penne, rotini) in the microwave. Long cuts, such as spaghetti, linguine, fettuccine, etc., do not cook well in the microwave. Microwave water on high heat (100%) in a 3 qt. microwave safe bowl for 5 to 9 minutes or until boiling; carefully stir in pasta. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 7 to 9 minutes, or just until tender. (This is for 1 serving of pasta. The amount of water is the same whether on the stove or in the microwave.) Still have a question? Contact us!

Yes. Pasta dishes may be prepared up to 24 hours ahead of time, refrigerated (covered) and then baked. They may also be prepared and frozen (unbaked) for up to 2 months. For quality reasons, we do not recommend freezing baked lasagna. Still have a question? Contact us!

We do not recommend freezing uncooked pasta. Our pasta products should be stored in a cool, dry place for maximum freshness. Glass or metal containers are recommended for storing dry products. Still have a question? Contact us!

We do not recommend cooking pasta in a slow cooker. It must be cooked in boiling water to gelatinize the starches which keep the pasta together and prevent it from becoming mushy and pasty. Still have a question? Contact us!

We do not recommend boiling this product since it is precooked. Oven Ready pasta is designed to re-hydrate in typical lasagna recipes. Boiling can result in starchy broken pieces that are difficult to separate. Still have a question? Contact us!

Pardon our dust! Making pasta with rough texture naturally leaves a little extra flour on the pasta as well as inside your box.

Number 7 is listed on the recycle scale as “Other”, meaning there is no recycling for this category because it is made up of different structures laminated together. Still have a question? Contact us!