Cavatappi vs Conchiglie
Cavatappi is hollow ridged tube wound into a corkscrew. Conchiglie is cupped shell with ridges on the outside.
Side by side, to scale
10 mmCavatappi: 30 to 40 mm by 7 to 9 mm
Conchiglie: 25 to 35 mm by 15 to 22 mm
Footprints from the length and width in each record, one scale for both. See every shape on the chart.
| Family | Tubes | Short shapes |
|---|---|---|
| Region | All of Italy | All of Italy |
| Section | Hollow ridged tube wound into a corkscrew | Cupped shell with ridges on the outside |
| Length | 30 to 40 mm | 25 to 35 mm |
| Width or diameter | 7 to 9 mm | 15 to 22 mm |
| Wall or thickness | 0.9 to 1.1 mm | not measured |
| Surface | Ridged | Ridged |
| Hollow | Yes | No |
| Dough | Semolina and water | Semolina and water |
| Cook time | 8 to 10 min | 10 to 13 min |
| Brands with a page | De Cecco, Garofalo, Barilla | De Cecco, Rummo, Garofalo, Barilla, La Molisana |
| Catalogue numbers | De Cecco no. 87, Garofalo no. 92 | De Cecco no. 50, De Cecco no. 52, Rummo no. 42, Garofalo no. 84, La Molisana no. 25, La Molisana no. 56, La Molisana no. 57, La Molisana no. 313 |
| Cook time across brands | 8 to 12 min | 7 to 15 min |
| Brand dimensions | not measured | Rummo: |
| 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 | 43 | 37 |
| Pairs with | Mac and cheese, Pasta salad, Cream sauce, Pesto alla genovese, Four cheese, Vodka sauce | Mac and cheese, Sausage ragu, Cream sauce, Vegetable ragu, Tuna and tomato, Pomodoro, Pasta salad |
Cavatappi
Three ways to hold sauce at once, so it takes cheese sauces, cream, pesto, dressings, and a light ragu. It is the upgrade from elbows in mac and cheese and it stays springy when cold.
Conchiglie
A cup fills with whatever is in the pan: cheese sauce, cream with peas, a sausage crumble, a chunky tomato. Medium shells are a mac-and-cheese upgrade. Ridges hold sauce on the outside too.
Can you swap them?
Cavatappi for conchiglie: yes, a spiral with similar grip.
Both take Mac and cheese, Pasta salad, Cream sauce.
Only cavatappi: Pesto alla genovese, Four cheese, Vodka sauce.
Only conchiglie: Sausage ragu, Vegetable ragu, Tuna and tomato, 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.