Penne vs Sedani
Penne is medium tube cut on the diagonal, ridged (rigate) or smooth (lisce). Sedani is slightly curved narrow ridged tube.
Side by side, to scale
10 mmPenne: 45 to 55 mm by 9 to 11 mm
Sedani: 35 to 45 mm by 7 to 9 mm
Footprints from the length and width in each record, one scale for both. See every shape on the chart.
| Family | Tubes | Tubes |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Liguria | All of Italy |
| Section | Medium tube cut on the diagonal, ridged (rigate) or smooth (lisce) | Slightly curved narrow ridged tube |
| Length | 45 to 55 mm | 35 to 45 mm |
| Width or diameter | 9 to 11 mm | 7 to 9 mm |
| Wall or thickness | 1 to 1.3 mm | 0.9 to 1.1 mm |
| Surface | Ridged | 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 | De Cecco, Rummo, Garofalo, Mancini, Barilla, La Molisana | Rummo, Mancini, La Molisana |
| Catalogue numbers | De Cecco no. 41, Rummo no. 66, Garofalo no. 70, La Molisana no. 20 | Rummo no. 68, La Molisana no. 44, La Molisana no. 49 |
| Cook time across brands | 8 to 15 min | 7 to 13 min |
| Brand dimensions | Rummo: 48 mm long, 8.2 mm across; Mancini: 50 mm long, 10.2 mm across | Rummo: 45 mm long, 8.5 mm across; Mancini: 40 mm long, 7 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 | 1244 | 36 |
| Pairs with | Arrabbiata, Vodka sauce, Pomodoro, Cream sauce, Norma, Tuna and tomato, Baked (al forno), Pasta salad | Pomodoro, Meat ragu, Cream sauce, Vegetable ragu, Baked (al forno) |
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.
Sedani
Ridged and curved, so it grips smooth and medium sauces: tomato, a light ragu, cream with vegetables. Too narrow for big pieces.
Can you swap them?
Penne for sedani: yes, a straight tube of similar width.
Both take Pomodoro, Cream sauce, Baked (al forno).
Only penne: Arrabbiata, Vodka sauce, Norma, Tuna and tomato, Pasta salad.
Only sedani: Meat ragu, Vegetable 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.