Anelli vs Rotelle
Anelli is small thin rings. Rotelle is wagon wheel with spokes.
Side by side, to scale
10 mmAnelli: 2 to 4 mm by 8 to 12 mm
Rotelle: 20 to 28 mm by 20 to 28 mm
Footprints from the length and width in each record, one scale for both. See every shape on the chart.
| Family | Pastina | Short shapes |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Sicily | All of Italy |
| Section | Small thin rings | Wagon wheel with spokes |
| Length | 2 to 4 mm | 20 to 28 mm |
| Width or diameter | 8 to 12 mm | 20 to 28 mm |
| Wall or thickness | not measured | 4 to 6 mm |
| Surface | Smooth | Smooth |
| Hollow | No | No |
| Dough | Semolina and water | Semolina and water |
| Cook time | 8 to 11 min | 9 to 11 min |
| Brands with a page | Rummo | De Cecco, La Molisana |
| Catalogue numbers | Rummo no. 23 | De Cecco no. 54, La Molisana no. 71 |
| Cook time across brands | 3 min | 9 to 12 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 | 17 |
| Pairs with | In brodo, Minestrone, Baked (al forno), Meat ragu | Pasta salad, Pomodoro, Mac and cheese, Minestrone |
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.
Rotelle
The spokes catch small pieces and a light sauce. Pasta salad, a simple tomato, a cheese sauce, a soup.
Can you swap them?
Rotelle for anelli: yes, wheels.
Anelli for rotelle: yes, rings for soup.
Both take Minestrone.
Only anelli: In brodo, Baked (al forno), Meat ragu.
Only rotelle: Pasta salad, Pomodoro, Mac and cheese.
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.