Pasta and Grains taking longer to cook? (stoves, cooking, brands)

[Catdancer]

I'm wondering if anybody else has noticed that pasta and rice especially are taking longer to cook lately? I'm using the same brands we always used to, the same water and the same cooking pots but I'm having to cook this stuff like 25% longer than I did in the past.

Anybody else? What's going on here?

[Naturen]

I haven't noticed a difference.

[hellpaso]

Have you checked the dates on your packages of rice & pasta? I know that older dried beans take longer to cook. Just a thought.

Or what about your stovetop? Heating elements eventually go bad in electric stoves, or if gas, maybe the jets/vents need cleaning?