Cooking Pasta----Rigatoni (Italian, spaghetti, boiling, salt)

[taurus430]

I grew up eating lots of pasta coming from an Italian Family. I like spaghetti the best. I do like Rigatoni but everytime we cook it, it splits and it's not overcooked either. I was wondering if others had that problem. It's pasta from Italy also. I don't think we have as much a problem with Ziti. Any clues or is it just because it's a bigger shape?

[NJ Sherri]

It shouldn't split unless it is being stirred too much.

Unless the pasta is a bit stale, but even then not really. Dried pasta lasts for quite a while.

Stir it a bit when you put it in, stir it a bit at 5 minutes, check it at ten minutes for texture and stir, takes about 12-14 minutes usually, but grabbing a piece and trying it is the way to go. Don't stir it too much. And use salt in the water, it does add to the taste.

[eggalegga]

I too grew up eating may pasta dishes in my Italian family. My dad liked American Beauty brand rigatoni and I rarely recall them splitting. Are they splitting when boiling them or baking them?