Conchiglie vs Pipe rigate
Conchiglie is cupped shell with ridges on the outside. Pipe rigate is curved ridged tube pinched at one end, like a snail shell.
Side by side, to scale
10 mmConchiglie: 25 to 35 mm by 15 to 22 mm
Pipe rigate: 20 to 28 mm by 12 to 15 mm
Footprints from the length and width in each record, one scale for both. See every shape on the chart.
| Family | Short shapes | Tubes |
|---|---|---|
| Region | All of Italy | All of Italy |
| Section | Cupped shell with ridges on the outside | Curved ridged tube pinched at one end, like a snail shell |
| Length | 25 to 35 mm | 20 to 28 mm |
| Width or diameter | 15 to 22 mm | 12 to 15 mm |
| Wall or thickness | not measured | 1 to 1.2 mm |
| Surface | Ridged | Ridged |
| Hollow | No | Yes |
| Dough | Semolina and water | Semolina and water |
| Cook time | 10 to 13 min | 10 to 12 min |
| Brands with a page | De Cecco, Rummo, Garofalo, Barilla, La Molisana | Barilla |
| Catalogue numbers | 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 | not measured |
| Cook time across brands | 7 to 15 min | 9 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 | 37 | 14 |
| Pairs with | Mac and cheese, Sausage ragu, Cream sauce, Vegetable ragu, Tuna and tomato, Pomodoro, Pasta salad | Cream sauce, Sausage ragu, Vegetable ragu, Pomodoro, Four cheese |
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.
Pipe rigate
A ridged cup with a bore, so it captures cream, cheese, and sauces with small pieces: peas and ham, sausage crumbs, a vegetable ragu, a thick tomato.
Can you swap them?
Pipe rigate for conchiglie: yes, a curved tube with a pinched end.
Conchiglie for pipe rigate: yes, shells, another cup.
Both take Sausage ragu, Cream sauce, Vegetable ragu, Pomodoro.
Only conchiglie: Mac and cheese, Tuna and tomato, Pasta salad.
Only pipe rigate: Four 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.