Cavatappi vs Fusilli
Cavatappi is hollow ridged tube wound into a corkscrew. Fusilli is short solid spiral, three blades twisted around a core.
Side by side, to scale
10 mmCavatappi: 30 to 40 mm by 7 to 9 mm
Fusilli: 35 to 45 mm by 8 to 10 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 | Campania |
| Section | Hollow ridged tube wound into a corkscrew | Short solid spiral, three blades twisted around a core |
| Length | 30 to 40 mm | 35 to 45 mm |
| Width or diameter | 7 to 9 mm | 8 to 10 mm |
| Wall or thickness | 0.9 to 1.1 mm | not measured |
| Surface | Ridged | Smooth |
| Hollow | Yes | No |
| Dough | Semolina and water | Semolina and water |
| Cook time | 8 to 10 min | 9 to 12 min |
| Brands with a page | De Cecco, Garofalo, Barilla | De Cecco, Rummo, Garofalo, Mancini, La Molisana |
| Catalogue numbers | De Cecco no. 87, Garofalo no. 92 | De Cecco no. 34, De Cecco no. 98, Rummo no. 48, Rummo no. 155, Garofalo no. 63, La Molisana no. 28 |
| Cook time across brands | 8 to 12 min | 8 to 15 min |
| Brand dimensions | not measured | Rummo: 40 mm long, 10.5 mm across; Mancini: 40 mm long, 12 mm across |
| 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 | 154 |
| Pairs with | Mac and cheese, Pasta salad, Cream sauce, Pesto alla genovese, Four cheese, Vodka sauce | Pesto alla genovese, Pasta salad, Vegetable ragu, Pomodoro, Tuna and tomato, Ricotta, Sausage ragu |
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.
Fusilli
The spiral grooves trap sauce along their whole length, so fusilli takes chunky and creamy sauces that a smooth shape sheds: pesto, a vegetable ragu, tomato with ricotta, a cold dressing. It is the default pasta salad shape.
Can you swap them?
Fusilli for cavatappi: yes, a solid spiral with similar grip.
Cavatappi for fusilli: yes, a hollow spiral with ridges.
Both take Pasta salad, Pesto alla genovese.
Only cavatappi: Mac and cheese, Cream sauce, Four cheese, Vodka sauce.
Only fusilli: Vegetable ragu, Pomodoro, Tuna and tomato, Ricotta, Sausage ragu.
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.