Anelli vs Ditalini
Anelli is small thin rings. Ditalini is tiny straight tube, the soup ditali.
Side by side, to scale
10 mmAnelli: 2 to 4 mm by 8 to 12 mm
Ditalini: 4 to 7 mm by 4 to 6 mm
Footprints from the length and width in each record, one scale for both. See every shape on the chart.
| Family | Pastina | Pastina |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Sicily | Campania |
| Section | Small thin rings | Tiny straight tube, the soup ditali |
| Length | 2 to 4 mm | 4 to 7 mm |
| Width or diameter | 8 to 12 mm | 4 to 6 mm |
| Wall or thickness | not measured | 0.8 to 1 mm |
| Surface | Smooth | Smooth |
| Hollow | No | Yes |
| Dough | Semolina and water | Semolina and water |
| Cook time | 8 to 11 min | 7 to 10 min |
| Brands with a page | Rummo | Barilla |
| Catalogue numbers | Rummo no. 23 | not measured |
| Cook time across brands | 3 min | 11 min |
| Brand dimensions | Rummo: | not measured |
| Energy, dry, per 100 g | 371 kcal (dry semolina pasta) | 371 kcal (dry semolina pasta) |
| Protein, dry, per 100 g | 13.0 g | 13.0 g |
| Products catalogued | not measured | 28 |
| Pairs with | In brodo, Minestrone, Baked (al forno), Meat ragu | Pasta e fagioli, Pasta e ceci, Minestrone, In brodo, Pomodoro |
Anelli
Small rings hold a little sauce in the centre. Soup for the small grade, a baked timballo with ragu and cheese for the medium.
Ditalini
A tiny tube cooks in the liquid it is served in and holds a bean or a pea in its bore. Soups, thick vegetable stews, and a simple tomato for children.
Can you swap them?
Ditalini for anelli: yes, tiny tubes for soup.
Both take In brodo, Minestrone.
Only anelli: Baked (al forno), Meat ragu.
Only ditalini: Pasta e fagioli, Pasta e ceci, Pomodoro.
Sources
- Dimensions, surface, dough, and cook time: each shape page names the brand page, spec sheet, or measured box behind every figure.
- Brands, catalogue numbers, brand cook times, and brand dimensions: the brand product pages linked on each shape page, read on 2026-08-25.
- Energy and protein: USDA FoodData Central, per 100 g of the dough, public domain.
- Products catalogued: Open Food Facts, Open Database License, read on 2026-08-25. A crowd database: a count is a floor.