Poll: To break or not to break (Barilla, etc.) long pasta to cook it? (noodles, buy)

[JonahWicky]

I only break it so it's easier to eat. Personal preference, not a matter of right or wrong.

[bale002]

Originally Posted by 5-all

Never. Linguine is long for a reason. Put it in the pot and push it underwater. It's more difficult to eat when it's broken. Buy shells or if you want thin flat pieces buy thin egg noodles or fresh linguine that comes in nest form.

This.

I use a different size pot depending on how much linguine/spaghetti I am cooking, but in any case it softens enough after just a few seconds to push it all down and twirl it a bit.


Linguine is long for a reason.

Pasta to people of Italian food traditions as snow is to Eskimos, or something like that; each shape and texture has a name and special purpose.

But obviously there is no law against breaking linguine or spaghetti, so for those who don't perceive those differences in purpose, it ... well ... doesn't make a difference.

[evening sun]

I only buy short or small or stuff-able pasta. Eating those long strands is far too messy for me. I also refuse to eat spaghetti in public.

[Electrician4you]

Originally Posted by InformedConsent

I have a friend of Italian heritage who visibly blanched when I broke packaged linguine (Barilla, etc.) so it would fit in the pan to prepare and then be easier to eat. I'll understand completely if that's a BIG no-no. Vote in the poll and feel free to explain your beliefs on this, completely judgment free! Thanks!

Yeah you don’t break pasta like that. Whassamatta withayou?

[Rickcin]

My take is that it all depends on the specific dish your making.

In a zuppa di pesce you’re, your better off leaving it intact since it would be much more difficult to eat. In an egg frittata or a spinach pasta casserole you need to break it up first so it’s properly mixed.

[InformedConsent]

Originally Posted by Electrician4you

Yeah you don’t break pasta like that. Whassamatta withayou?

Oh, believe me, I get it now.

[Steve McDonald]

I used to use a 6-qt. pot to cook spaghetti and it was no trouble to put it in the boiling water whole. But now I use a 3-qt. pot, so I break it in two. I have no interest in cultural traditions, either from my own ancestors or those of anyone else. I'm sure that the things I put in the pot after the spaghetti is cooked, would be regarded unfavorably by anyone entrenched in Italian cuisine. Those things are canned tomatoes, sliced black olives, frozen peas, chopped celery and an onion, along with balsamic vinegar and served with nonfat, plain yogurt. But I'm doing the cooking and the eating, so what do I care?

By the way, I've found that whole-wheat pasta is best when cooked for 31 minutes. What is called "refined" pasta, that has valuable nutrients stripped away, probably takes less time. Another thing to be noted is that I no longer use Italian seasoning in my cooking. The herbs that are in the mint family (sage, oregano, rosemary, etc.) inhibit formation of platelets for the blood and reduce its ability to clot. Cranberries can do the same thing, if you eat them regularly.

[TachyonField]

Yes, you can break it. And you can put ketchup on your hot dog too.

[Threestep2]

Originally Posted by evening sun

I only buy short or small or stuff-able pasta. Eating those long strands is far too messy for me. I also refuse to eat spaghetti in public.

Fork and spoon.

[DubbleT]

Originally Posted by Threestep2

Fork and spoon.

This, you can't properly eat spaghetti if you break it.
However my answer was 'it depends', for me it depends on whether or not anyone else will know I broke my pasta in half. If i'm just preparing it for myself I'll break it so that I don't have to stand there stirring it down into the pot. Knowing that my ex-husband's Italian grandmother is watching with horror from the great beyond.