Tips for Measuring Spaghetti

I've heard at least 10 people I know tell me they have a hard time gauging how much spaghetti they need to boil. Over the years, I have found hand-methods that work well for different amounts of this pasta for cooking.

Fingertips to thumb tip

Fingertips to the tip of your thumb will measure enough of the pasta for two adults or up to three kids. Depending on how hungry and how much they love spaghetti, this amount can feed one toddler and two preschool aged kids.

Index fingertip to second thumb knuckle

The index fingertip to the thumb knuckle below the nail will measure enough for a dinner plate full for one person. I use this method when I want spaghetti and no one else does. That isn't very often.

Index fingertip to thumb knuckle

For those who have kids who feel as if spaghetti is the only meal, the index fingertip to the thumb knuckle will be enough for a toddler or preschool aged child. If you are someone watching your weight, this amount of the pasta could help satisfy a craving.

Small c measurement for spaghetti

Form a small c with your hand. This amount will feed three adults sufficiently. I use this method the most when making this pasta meal for my family. The small c is between a quarter and half pound of pasta.

Large c measurement for spaghetti

The large c measurement is forming a capital c with your hand. The approximate pasta amount is one pound. It may not take the whole pound package of dried spaghetti using this measurement.

One pound box measurement for spaghetti

I often buy Kroger's Value one-pound box of spaghetti and this is how I figured out the large c measurement when I buy American Beauty or Kroger's store brand spaghetti in larger sizes.

This amount will feed at least five adults when nothing else but spaghetti is served. If you are serving salad or garlic bread with your dinner, the more people you can serve with one pound of this pasta.

Plate Method

Remove the amount of spaghetti from the package and lay it on the plate. Add or remove pasta until the amount satisfies you for each person. You will need to use this method for each person.

Spaghetti measurer kitchen utensils

The spaghetti server is plastic kitchen utensil that can cut out the guesswork on measuring this pasta. The upside to this type is they can also serve the spaghetti out of the pot if you don't have a pasta pot. There are also wooden measurers available as well.