How to Measure Dry Pasta

Last Updated: June 28, 2022 References Approved

When cooking pasta, you must measure the dry pasta to ensure you don't cook too little or too much for your sauce. Pasta generally doubles in size and weight when cooked.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Abyssinia Campbell
Executive Chef
Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.} It is also measured differently depending upon whether it is macaroni pasta or egg noodles. Some recipes merely specify the number of servings of pasta you should cook which means you have to figure out the measurements yourself. Measuring pasta servings depends upon serving size and pasta shape. This article will teach you how to measure dry pasta.

1

Measuring Spaghetti and Other Long Pastas

Measure spaghetti, fettuccini, spaghettini, capellini, fedelini, or vermicelli using your hand. Place a bunch of spaghetti between your thumb and forefinger. 1 serving of pasta, or 2 oz. (57 g), will be equivalent to a bunch of pasta between your fingers with a diameter of 7/8 inch (24.26 mm).^{[2]
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Research source} This is the diameter of a United States quarter.
- Two servings = 1.75 inches; four servings = 3.5 inches; six servings = 5.25 inches; eight servings = 7 inches.
- Spaghetti, linguine, and other long pastas can be measured using a pasta measure. A pasta measure is a tool that is available at kitchen supply stores, in pasta-making kits, and online.^{[3]
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  Research source} You place the long pasta in various loops to measure a serving of the pasta.
- Some pasta spoons have a hole in the middle; this will measure one serving of long pasta.

2

Measuring Elbow Macaroni

Measure elbow macaroni using measuring cups or a food scale. If using a food scale, place the pasta in the cup attached to the scale and measure 57 g. If using measuring cups, a single 2 oz. (57 g) serving is 1/2 cup of dried pasta.
- Two servings = 1 cup; four servings = 2 cups; six servings = 3 cups; eight servings = 4 cups.

3

Measuring Penne Pasta

Measure penne pasta using measuring cups or a food scale. If you are using measuring cups, a single 2 oz. (57 g) serving is 3/4 cup of dried pasta.
- Two servings = 1 1/2 cups; four servings = 3 cups; six servings = 4 1/2 cups; eight servings = 6 cups.

4

Measuring Ribbed Lasagna

Measure ribbed lasagna using a food scale or individual pieces. A 2 oz. (57 g) serving of lasagna is approximately 2 pieces of dry lasagna sheets.^{[4]
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- It is typically best to use about four layers of noodles when making a lasagna. The typical baking dish used to make lasagna is either 8x8 inches or 10x8 inches^{[5]
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  Research source}. With four layers of lasagna noodles, an 8x8 pan of lasagna will typically feed four people, while a 10x8 pan will usually serve six.

5

Measuring Egg Noodles

Measure egg noodles using measuring cups or a food scale. When measuring egg noodles using measuring cups, 2 oz. (56 g) of egg noodles is approximately 1 1/4 cup of egg noodles and also 1 1/4 cup of cooked noodles.
- Unlike macaroni pastas, egg noodles measured in measuring cups are typically the same both dry and cooked.
- Typically, for extra wide egg noodles, a 2 oz. serving equals 1 1/4 cups of dry egg noodles, which will yield approximately 1 1/2 cups of cooked noodles.

Community Q&A

Question

If I have a 16 oz pkg of orecchiette, but only need 10 oz, how do I measure the 10 oz?

Community Answer

The best choice would be to use a kitchen scale. Otherwise, you can divide it into four groups as equally as possible and use two and a half of the groups.
Question

How do you measure with a spaghetti tool?

Community Answer

A pasta measure (or spaghetti tool) has various holes which indicate various serving sizes. Usually, there is one labeled as a single serving. To measure, simply fill the hole with a bunch of the pasta until full. These tools are quite straight-forward to use.
Question

How much dry elbows do I need for 2 cups of cooked?

Community Answer

As dry pasta generally doubles in size when cooked, 1 cup of dry elbows should be perfect.