Barilla Penne Versus Surprise: Fast Pasta Shown In Season... Tested! We recently tested Barilla Ready Pasta, Penne, 7 oz. Pouch (pack of 7) to see how it held up in our quick-cooking challenge. The results? Stored in our pantry for an undisclosed amount of time, the penne turned out perfectly al dente after just under 3 minutes in boiling water. The texture was dense, the flavor mellow—no surprise—but the convenience was undeniable. Our cocina extraña sighed in relief; no more waiting 10 minutes for water to boil. Package resealability was a mixed bag, though. While it did a commendable job keeping the pasta dry, there was a slight indentation where the zipper met the bag after storage. We appreciated the meal-sized portions, though they’ll likely disappear between us in one sitting. Overall, we approve—especially for those nights when hunger strikes and the pantry calls.