Pasta Almanac

The difference

Rigatoni vs Mezze maniche

Mezze maniche is essentially a rigatoni cut short, half sleeves to rigatoni's full ones. Same wide ridged tube and the same job with a chunky ragu; mezze maniche is just the stubby version, easy to eat by the forkful.

Gouache illustration of Rigatoni

Rigatoni

Family
Tubes
Size
45 to 60 mm long
Surface
Ridged
Cook
12 to 14 min

Wants: Amatriciana, Ragu, Norma

Gouache illustration of Mezze maniche

Mezze maniche

Family
Tubes
Size
20 mm long
Surface
Ridged
Cook
11 min

Wants: Carbonara, Gricia, Amatriciana

Compare more shapes, or look up Rigatoni and Mezze maniche in full.