Measuring out serving sizes can help to prevent overeating. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a large portion size is one of the biggest problems leading to weight gain. The U.S. Department of Agriculture counts ½ cup of cooked pasta as a serving size. Most dried pasta doubles in volume when cooked, so measure out a smaller portion of pasta than what you plan to eat. For example, 1 ounce of dried pasta will equal ½ cup of cooked pasta.
Step 1
Measure dry pasta by weight rather than volume to increase accuracy. Set your scale to "0" before you put the pasta on it.
Step 2
Place the pasta on your food scale. A 1-ounce serving of pasta does not seem like very much. For short pasta, it will be approximately one handful. A 1-ounce serving of long pasta will be the diameter of a dime when bunched together.
Step 3
Wait for a few moments for your scale to give you a reading. A digital scale will give you the reading quickly. A spring scale may take a moment to balance and settle down.
Step 4
Take into account the weight of the container if you are using one to hold your pasta. This will ensure a correct reading for your pasta on the scale. For example, if your container weighs 2 ounces, your scale should read 3 ounces when weighing the pasta for a 1-ounce serving.
Step 5
Add more pasta or take away pasta as necessary until you have the portion size you want. For example, if your scale reads 2 ounces with only the pasta on it, take out a half a handful of pasta at a time until your scale reads 1 ounce.
