The effortless composition and substantial nutritional content of pasta hardly come as a surprise, given its rank among the most widely consumed foods globally.
The age-old inquiry persists, notwithstanding its millennia of existence: which pasta shape is most effective at retaining sauce?
Placing first on the list was cascatelli, an American pasta that debuted relatively recently and featured distinctive pleats and a curved form intentionally intended to transport sauce.
Sauce Pairing Wisdom
Spaghetti, penne, and the “bow tie” pasta farfalle were also among the top six, but an expert claims that much also depends on the type of sauce.
Creamier condiments generally complement a more voluminous and level form.
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To facilitate the adhesion of thinner oil-based sauces, people commonly pair them with longer, thinner noodles or those with a twist.
“Hollow centres are ideal for soups, baked goods, and thin sauces; larger centres also complement chunkier, heartier sauces.”
It is acceptable to experiment in order to determine which pasta pairs best with which sauce, despite the fact that some individuals are extremely particular about the pairings.
The peculiar form of cascatelle, which translates approximately to “little waterfalls” in Italian, explains the name.
The one-of-a-kind design comprises a flat but curved segment with ruffles on either side, which experts have likened to a “sauce trough with barriers.”
However, this is not an Italian invention; American food podcaster Dan Pashman devised cascatelli in 2021 for the sole purpose of retaining sauce more effectively.
Pasta Innovations and Toothsinkability
He collaborated with the American pasta manufacturer Sfoglini to create the product, which is primarily available online and more difficult to locate in British supermarkets.
Mr. Pashman told Inverse, “My objective was to design a genuinely magnificent form that could be mass-produced and sold,” adding that it should withstand the test of time.
Additionally, Cascatelli has exceptional “toothsinkability” and “forkability” (meaning it is easy to get it on the fork and stay there) and “toothsinkability” (meaning it is satisfying to bite into).
Spaghetti, which is unexpectedly thin and devoid of fissures, achieved the second position on ChatGPT’s list.
The chatbot stated that the shape of the lengthy strands “provides an excellent surface area for the sauce to adhere to” and that they are “ideal for wrapping around and holding onto sauce.”
Following that was fettuccine, an Italian word that translates to “little ribbons.” Similar in length to spaghetti, but with a flatter, broader surface.
In addition to possessing a rough texture that aids in sauce adhesion and prevents sauce from sliding off, fettuccine is sufficiently dense to absorb a great deal of moisture.
