Mostaccioli vs Penne
Mostaccioli is smooth diagonal-cut tube, the American penne lisce. Penne is medium tube cut on the diagonal, ridged (rigate) or smooth (lisce).
Side by side, to scale
10 mmMostaccioli: 45 to 55 mm by 9 to 11 mm
Penne: 45 to 55 mm by 9 to 11 mm
Footprints from the length and width in each record, one scale for both. See every shape on the chart.
| Family | Tubes | Tubes |
|---|---|---|
| Region | United States | Liguria |
| Section | Smooth diagonal-cut tube, the American penne lisce | Medium tube cut on the diagonal, ridged (rigate) or smooth (lisce) |
| Length | 45 to 55 mm | 45 to 55 mm |
| Width or diameter | 9 to 11 mm | 9 to 11 mm |
| Wall or thickness | 1 to 1.3 mm | 1 to 1.3 mm |
| Surface | Smooth | Ridged |
| Hollow | Yes | Yes |
| Dough | Semolina and water | Semolina and water |
| Cook time | 10 to 12 min | 10 to 12 min |
| Brands with a page | Barilla | De Cecco, Rummo, Garofalo, Mancini, Barilla, La Molisana |
| Catalogue numbers | not measured | De Cecco no. 41, Rummo no. 66, Garofalo no. 70, La Molisana no. 20 |
| Cook time across brands | 11 min | 8 to 15 min |
| Brand dimensions | not measured | Rummo: 48 mm long, 8.2 mm across; Mancini: 50 mm long, 10.2 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 | 30 | 1244 |
| Pairs with | Baked (al forno), Meat ragu, Pomodoro, Vodka sauce | Arrabbiata, Vodka sauce, Pomodoro, Cream sauce, Norma, Tuna and tomato, Baked (al forno), Pasta salad |
Mostaccioli
As penne lisce: tomato, meat sauce, and the oven. The smooth surface suits baked dishes where the cheese binds.
Penne
The bore carries sauce inside and the ridges hold it outside, so penne takes any sauce with body: arrabbiata, vodka sauce, a vegetable ragu, cream with peas and ham, and the oven. The pointed ends spear rather than scoop, so very chunky sauces sit better in rigatoni.
Can you swap them?
Penne for mostaccioli: yes, ridged, more grip.
Mostaccioli for penne: yes, the American name for smooth penne.
Both take Baked (al forno), Pomodoro, Vodka sauce.
Only mostaccioli: Meat ragu.
Only penne: Arrabbiata, Cream sauce, Norma, Tuna and tomato, Pasta salad.
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.