You’ve Never Noticed This Hidden Secret in Your Pasta Spoon
Updated: Mar. 23, 2023
Turns out, you *might* be able to measure spaghetti with your spoon.
What if we told you your pasta spoon could do more than just scoop, stir and serve? According to the Internet, it can. Apparently, the hole in the middle of your pasta spoon can double as a portioning tool. (Aka it’s just wide enough to fit the right amount of spaghetti for one person.) There’s a catch, though—this handy hack only works for a specific size of pasta spoon.
The Best Ways to Measure Pasta
Compare to a quarter.
According to the USDA, the proper pasta portion is 2 ounces. If you’re making longer noodles (think spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine), you can measure the right amount by holding the pasta up to a quarter. Once a bunch of noodles equals the diameter of the coin, you have the recommended 2 ounces.
Put it in your palm.
To measure out 1 cup of dry pasta, use your palm as a guide (fill a closed fist). This works best for smaller noodle shapes like macaroni or rigatoni.
Save a soda bottle.
While the hole in a pasta spoon may vary, the size of a soda bottle opening will always be the same. This makes it a perfect pasta-portioning tool. Fill the diameter tightly with dry noodles to determine how much to cook for one. (Hint: Rinse out your soda bottle first!)
Stick with the scale.
If you have a food scale, you’ll be able to most accurately measure your pasta portion. Aim for 2 ounces of cooked pasta for a single serving or 1 ounce of dry pasta.
Fit in your fingers.
This method is less reliable than the others (after all, everyone has different size hands) but it’s a *handy* trick in a pinch. Make a circle with your index finger and thumb, then fill the center with long noodles. That will be your portion prior to cooking.
Make “muffins.”
We learned this hack from Italian wonder woman (and chef) Giada De Laurentiis. She recommends taking cooked spaghetti noodles and filling a muffin tin with them. Each spot equals one portion of pasta. You can then stick them in the fridge to have for the week or put in the freezer for quick dinners.
Divide and conquer.
Each pasta box will have the number of recommended servings included on the nutrition label. If, for example, a box of penne says it has 8 servings, divvy out the box into 8 separate piles and place them in Ziploc baggies. Now the next time you want to whip up a delicious penne and smoked sausage meal, you can just grab a bag out of the pantry.
Get started with our best pasta recipes!
Angel Hair with Chicken & CherriesNutmeg and cherries are the new "it" pair. It’s the secret something that really makes this angel hair pasta dish. My vegetarian friend likes it just as well without chicken. —Mary Ann Sander, Centralia, Missouri
Shrimp PuttanescaI throw together these bold ingredients for a feisty seafood pasta. —Lynda Balslev, Sausalito, California
Rigatoni with Sausage & PeasWith a tomato-y meat sauce and tangy goat cheese, this weeknight wonder is my version of comfort food. You want to have bowl after bowl. —Lizzie Munro, Brooklyn, New York
Loaded Chicken Carbonara CupsSpaghetti cupcakes with a chicken carbonara twist make for a tasty, fun family dinner. Whole wheat pasta and reduced-fat ingredients make these quick and easy little pasta cakes nutritional winners, too. —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Sicilian Meat SaucePeople have told me this is better than the gravy their Sicilian grandmothers used to make. But don’t tell the old generation that! —Emory Doty, Jasper, Georgia
Italian Sausage & Sun-Dried Tomato PastaFlavor-packed sausage and sun-dried tomatoes are sure to liven up any simple pasta dish. I have a feeling that once you've tried it, it'll become a family favorite!—Dawn Singleton, Eighty Four, Pennsylvania
Spicy Veggie Pasta BakeMy dad cooked with cast-iron skillets, so when I do, I remember his amazing culinary skills. I keep the tradition going with my veggie pasta. —Sonya Goergen, Moorhead, Minnesota
Bucatini with Sausage & KaleI was short on time but wanted to make an elegant dinner for my husband and me. That night, we ate this simple pasta starring spicy sausage and our homegrown kale. —Angela Lemoine, Howell, New Jersery
Looking for the best pasta recipes? Look no further these incredible 5-star dishes.
Sauteed Scallops & Shrimp PastaI created this tempting seafood pasta for my wife. It’s a terrific meal served with crusty sourdough. If you don't like spice, skip the red pepper flakes. —George Levinthal, Goleta, California
Slow-Cooker Stuffed ShellsThere's no need to precook the shells in this simple pasta dish. It's almost like magic when you open the lid and find the deliciousness waiting in the slow cooker. Add garlic bread and you're golden! —Sherry Day, Pinckney, Michigan
Shrimp Alfredo FettuccineFettuccine Alfredo's been around for ages. I give it a modern update by adding tender shrimp and a pop of lemon. —Tonya Burkhard, Davis, Illinois
Shrimp PomodoroMy husband and I have hectic schedules, so I’m always looking for fast meals that have special-occasion appeal. Shrimp with garlic, tomatoes and pasta is a winner. —Catherine Jensen, Blytheville, Arkansas
Pesto LasagnaThe bright flavor of basil takes center stage in this pesto lasagna. Paired with a rich cheese sauce and layers of noodles, it's a potluck dish that will have guests asking you for the recipe. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Contest-Winning Chicken CacciatoreMy husband and I own and operate a busy farm. There are days when there's just no time left for cooking! It's really nice to be able to come into the house at night and smell this wonderful slow cooker chicken cacciatore. —Aggie Arnold-Norman, Liberty, Pennsylvania
Scallops with LinguineA buttery garlic sauce zips up a bowlful of linguine, bay scallops and veggies. Celebrate something special or toast the end of another workday with this dish that's perfectly sized for two. —Paula Jones, Brooksville, Florida
Italian Sausage with Artichokes and FetaTo impress the guests, we serve Italian sausage and artichoke hearts with pasta. It tastes like a gourmet masterpiece and also works with rice or potatoes. —Aysha Schurman, Ammon, Idaho
My Best Spaghetti & Meatballs
One of my favorite childhood memories is going to the Old Spaghetti Factory with my family and ordering a big plate of cheesy spaghetti, meatballs and garlic bread. My homemade recipe reminds me of those fun times and satisfies everyone's craving for good Italian food. —Erika Monroe-Williams, Scottsdale, Arizona
Spicy Sausage RigatoniMy inspiration for this recipe came from a Cajun pasta dish I make with blackened chicken, but here I substitute Italian sausage. I love this dish. It makes a hearty meal that warms you up all over. —Toni Dishman, Mooresville, North Carolina
Pressure-Cooker Red Clam SauceThis recipe tastes as if you've been working on it all day. What a classy way to jazz up pasta sauce! —JoAnn Brown, LaTrobe, Pennsylvania
Some
Spaghetti & Meatball Skillet SupperI developed this one-skillet spaghetti and meatball dish to cut down on cooking time on busy nights. The beans, artichokes and tomatoes bump up the nutrition factor, while the lemon and parsley make it pop with brightness. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California
Best LasagnaWant to know how to make lasagna for a casual holiday meal? You can't go wrong with this deliciously rich meat lasagna recipe. My grown sons and daughter-in-law request it for their birthdays, too. —Pam Thompson, Girard, Illinois
Up Next: Enjoy these easy and delicious ravioli recipes.
Originally Published: December 15, 2017
