Pasta Almanac

The difference

Rigatoni vs Tortiglioni

Both are wide ridged tubes, but rigatoni's ridges run straight along its length while tortiglioni's spiral around it. The spiral grabs a touch more sauce as you twirl, otherwise they are close cousins, and rigatoni runs a little wider.

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 Tortiglioni

Tortiglioni

Family
Tubes
Size
36 to 42 mm long
Surface
Ridged
Cook
10 to 13 min

Wants: Ragu, Amatriciana, Sausage ragu

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