How to Choose the Right Pasta Shape

What will go best with your sauce, spaghetti or linguini? Learn how to make the best choice.

Rigatoni

Ideal for dense, heavy, wetter sauces and for baked dishes.

Perfect for lighter tomato-based sauces like this Penne Alla Vodka recipe.

Ideal for adding to luncheon salads. Try this Zucchini Fusilli recipe.

Perfect for lighter sauces and oil-and-garlic combinations.

Perfect for hearty, drier sauces containing meat or ham.

A natural for seafood pastas in lighter, cream-based sauces.

Withstands heavy ragus of lamb or duck.

Goes best with dryer pasta sauces, like broccoli rabe with sausage and oil.

Most delicious when paired with heavier, wetter sauces.

Ideal in broth-based pasta sauces.

Originally Published: July 05, 2011

Originally Published in Reader's Digest