 (1).png){kind=spacer}
1 year ago
14
With its simple mix of ingredients and high nutritional value, it's no surprise pasta is one of the most popular foods in the world.
Despite dating back thousands of years, the age-old question still remains – which pasta shape is the best for holding sauce?
To mark World Pasta Day, MailOnline turned to online AI tool ChatGPT for the answer, and it came up with some controversial results.
Top of the list was cascatelli, a relatively new pasta from America with a curved shape and distinctive ruffles, deliberately designed to carry sauce.
Also in the top six were spaghetti, penne and the 'bow tie' pasta farfalle – but an expert claims a lot depends on the type of sauce too.
According to ChatGPT, the best pasta for holding sauce is cascatelli, a relatively new invention from the US
'Creamier sauces typically pair better with a wider, flatter shape,' Dr Emma Beckett, a food and nutrition scientist at the University of Newcastle in Australia, told MailOnline.
'The thinner oil based sauces typically go with the longer thinner noodles, or twisty ones so that the thin sauce sticks.
'Hollow centres are for soup, thin sauces or baked dishes, or the bigger ones go well with chunkier, heartier sauces too.
'Some people are very strict about which pasta goes with which sauce, but its ok to experiment to find your own favourite.'
Cascatelle roughly translates from Italian to 'little waterfalls' and a look at the bizarre shape reveals why.
The unique design consists of a flat but curved strip with ruffles either side, creating what has been described as a 'sauce trough' with barriers.
But this is no Italian creation; Cascatelli was invented in 2021 by US food podcaster Dan Pashman with the express purpose of holding onto sauce better.
He worked with US pasta company Sfoglini to produce the product, which in the UK is mainly available online and is harder to find in the supermarkets.
Cascatelle (pictured) was invented in 2021 by US podcast host Dan Pashman (pictured). The name roughly translates from Italian to 'little waterfalls'
Cascatelle (pictured) was invented in 2021 by a US podcast host. The name roughly translates from Italian to 'little waterfalls'
Surprisingly, despite its slender shape and notable lack of crevices, spaghetti was placed second on ChatGPT's list
'My goal was to create a legitimately great shape that would stand the test of time and that could be mass-produced and sold,' Mr Pashman told Inverse.
According to Pashman, Cascatelli also has excellent 'forkability' (meaning it's easy to get on the fork and keep it there) and 'toothsinkability' (it's satisfying to bite into).
Surprisingly, despite its slender shape and notable lack of crevices, spaghetti was placed second on ChatGPT's list.
The chatbot said the long strands are 'perfect for wrapping around and holding onto sauce' and the shape 'creates an excellent surface area for the sauce to cling to'.
Next up was fettuccine, meaning 'little ribbons' in Italian, which is long just like spaghetti but has a broader and flatter surface.
Fettuccine also has a rough texture, which helps the sauce adhere to the pasta, preventing it from sliding off, as well as a thickness that lets it absorb plenty of moisture.
A British favourite, penne, was at number four, followed by rigatoni – both of which are cylindrical and so provide a little crevice to hold sauce within.
Fettuccine (pictured) is the name for the flat, thick noodles with generally the same length as spaghetti. The name means 'little ribbons' in Italian
Farfalle, or bowtie pasta, has a unique design that 'catches lighter sauces and is often used in pasta salads
Penne and rigatoni are both cylindrical and so provide a little crevice to hold the sauce within
They also have small ridges lining the exterior, which act as platforms for little chunks and increase the surface area for sauce absorption.
Last on the list was farfalle, shaped like bows or butterfly wings, which ChatGPT said has a unique design that 'catches lighter sauces and is often used in pasta salads'.
A special mention was also given for orecchiette, which means 'little ears' in Italian, a concave pasta that's good for scooping up thicker, chunkier sauces.
While pasta is widely thought to have come from Italy, many claim it actually originated in China, although there are plenty of Italians who dispute this.
Venetian merchant Marco Polo brought it back to Italy after visiting the Asian country in the 13th century, according to legend.
Archaeologists have also found evidence to suggest that central Asia may have been eating noodles for thousands of years.
You may be cooking pasta WRONG! Scientists warn adding salt at the incorrect time can be a danger to your health - but here are 4 ways to protect yourself
The Italian word for pasta without salt - 'sciocca' - also means 'silly,' because the ingredient heightens the flavor of the final dish.
However, adding salt at the wrong time can be a danger to your health, according to research.
Scientists from the University of South Carolina, Columbia analysed chemicals in tap water and found small amounts of disinfects that, when combined with salt, create harmful byproducts.
Known as iodinated disinfection byproducts (DBPs), these substances can lead to cancer, liver damage and decreased nervous system activity.
The team has revealed four simple ways to reduce or avoid these unwanted compounds in your pasta dish.
