Rigatoni Nutrition Facts

What’s the difference between rigatoni and penne?

Penne is cut on the bias, or diagonal, giving it a pointed shape. Rigatoni is cut straight, giving it a cylindrical shape.

Is rigatoni a noodle or pasta?

Rigatoni, which comes from the word “rigato” meaning ridged, are short, wide tubes of pasta that have ridges on the outside, but are smooth on the inside. Rigatoni are perfect for big chunkier sauces as their ridges and wide center help capture the sauce perfectly.

What pasta is closest to rigatoni?

Penne. Translated as “quills” or “feathers,” penne noodles are also tubular and ridged similarly to rigatoni.

Is rigatoni the same as ziti?

Slightly shorter and wider than ziti and penne, rigatoni can be straight or slightly curved, depending on the extrusion process. It’s always ridged, with square-cut ends similar to ziti.

Is rigatoni bigger than ziti?

Shorter and wider than both ziti and penne, rigatoni is always ridged with square-cut ends and usually straight, but sometimes slightly curved.

Can I substitute rigatoni for ziti?

The pasta, as the name indicates, is ziti, a tubular shape that comes in both smooth and ridged versions. A few recipes substitute other tube-shaped pastas, like penne or even rigatoni.

What’s a good substitute for rigatoni?

You can substitute other short, tube-shaped pasta like penne.

Can I use macaroni instead of rigatoni?

You can substitute elbow macaroni for penne rigate without affecting the flavor.