Techniques
Prep
Skill
Beginner
1 min

Break long pasta in half for easier handling and eating

Snap spaghetti (or other long pasta) in half before cooking if you want it more manageable in the pot and on the plate.

The presenter prefers breaking long pasta in half to make it easier to manage in the pan and easier to eat. They note you can also cook it whole if you prefer.

The short version

  • Optional: cook whole or break in half based on preference

How to do it

  1. 1

    Hold the bundle of long pasta with two hands near the middle.

    Watch this step
  2. 2

    Snap it in half (the video suggests breaking toward the water).

    Be careful of flying fragments; break close to the pot.

    Watch this step
  3. 3

    Drop the pieces into the boiling water and submerge them.

    Watch this step

Why it works

/Shorter lengths are easier to submerge and move around in smaller pots.

Learn next