Macaroni

pasta · food · shapes

Tiny pasta tubes. Macaroni is pasta shaped like narrow tubes, usually cut into short lengths. It's made from durum wheat, which gives it a sturdy texture that holds up well in soups and casseroles.

The elbow trick. Those curved elbow shapes aren't accidents. Factory machines create the bend by making one side of the pasta tube come out faster than the other side as it's being made, kind of like how a running person leans when turning a corner.

Factory power. While some home machines can make macaroni shapes, almost all the macaroni you eat comes from giant commercial factories using a process called extrusion. This pushes the dough through special shaped holes to create those perfect tubes.

Italian origins. The word "macaroni" comes from the Italian word "maccheroni." Italians have been enjoying pasta shapes like this for centuries, and it's now loved all around the world.