Penne

Pasta shape ✔ Checked: 10.2026 · sources: 2 Updated: 27.10.2026

Also known as: penne rigate, penne lisce, mostaccioli

Short pasta tubes cut diagonally at the ends, smooth or ridged (rigate); the name means “pen” in Italian.

Penne are short tubes of pasta cut diagonally at the ends. Barilla says the name means “pen” in Italian and that the tube with angled ends was inspired by the quill of an old-style ink pen; the ridged version is called penne rigate.

De Cecco notes that penne are among the few pasta shapes with a known creation date: in 1865 Giovanni Battista Capurro, a pasta maker from San Martino d'Albaro (Genoa), obtained a patent for a diagonal cutting machine, so that pasta could be cut like a quill in lengths of 3 to 5 centimetres. De Cecco's Penne Rigate n.41 cook in 12 minutes (10 for al dente), Barilla's Penne Rigate in 11 minutes.

De Cecco recommends penne rigate for oven-baked pasta, meat sauces of pork or beef, vegetable sauces and the classic tomato, basil, olive oil and parmesan, and names arrabbiata as a classic pairing. Barilla suggests chunky tomato sauces, meat ragùs and baked dishes.

Facts

Raw material	Durum wheat semolina
Duration	11–12 min (depending on producer)
Main use	Baked pasta, meat, vegetable and tomato sauces

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How it connects to Pasta

Penne → related → 🫒 Olive oil ← related ← 🍝 Pasta

Links

Used in: 🍆 Pasta alla Norma, 🍅 Spaghetti alla puttanesca
What it contains: Semolina, 🌾 Durum wheat
Part of: Dry durum wheat pasta
Similar and different: Rigatoni, Sedani, Garganelli, Barilla I Classici, Barilla Integrale, Barilla Senza Glutine, Barilla Protein+, Granoro Dedicato I Birigati, Voiello Pasta Corta, Granoro I Classici
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In other topics: 🫒 Olive oil

Frequently asked questions

What does penne mean?

According to Barilla, penne means “pen” in Italian; the tube with angled ends was inspired by the quill of an old-style ink pen.

How long do penne rigate cook?

De Cecco gives 12 minutes (10 for al dente) for Penne Rigate n.41; Barilla gives 11 minutes.

What do penne go with?

De Cecco recommends baked pasta, pork or beef sauces, vegetable sauces and tomato, basil and parmesan; Barilla suggests chunky tomato sauces, meat ragùs and baked dishes.

Comparisons

Penne or rigatoni: what is the difference

Sources

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