Chef’s Secret: Never Break Spaghetti. Here's Why

When it comes to cooking pasta, Italians do not compromise. Among the unwritten rules of Italian cuisine, one simple yet important prohibition stands out: never break the spaghetti before cooking.

Breaking spaghetti is considered unthinkable among pasta enthusiasts and chefs in Italy. According to them, it affects the taste, texture, and even the dignity of the dish.

Chef Antonio Rossi, owner of a family restaurant in Rome, explains:

"When you break spaghetti, you destroy the idea that pasta should be long, flow on the plate, and coil around the fork. The length of spaghetti is part of the tradition and experience of eating the dish."

He states that whole spaghetti cooks evenly, whereas broken spaghetti may cook unevenly, with the ends becoming too soft. Additionally, whole spaghetti absorbs the sauce better and creates a dish with a rich texture.

Chef Marco Bellini from Milan adds: "The shape and length of the spaghetti are not just for aesthetics. They are designed to capture the sauce perfectly, whether it's tomato sauce, carbonara, or olive oil with garlic. Broken spaghetti just doesn't deliver the same experience."

Beyond the technical aspects, breaking spaghetti is seen as a sign of disrespect to Italian tradition. In Italy, each type of pasta is designed to pair in a certain way with specific types of sauces. "If you start breaking spaghetti, you'll lose the magic of the dish," concludes Lucia Francesco, a chef from the Tuscany region.