9 Things You Never Knew About Pasta

On average, Italians eat enough spaghetti-shaped pasta to wind around the world 15,000 times.

Most Americans (49 percent) eat long pasta by twirling it on their fork only, while others (32 percent) use a spoon to help.

Based off a 2013 Barilla World Pasta Day survey, Americans' favorite pasta cuts are spaghetti, penne, and rotini.

Pasta has always been made with only two simple ingredients: durum wheat and water.

Researchers found that the majority of people cook their pasta by breaking long noodles in half to fit the pot (55 percent) and adding salt to taste to boiling cooking water (52 percent).

According to the International Pasta Organization, there are more than 600 different shapes of pasta around the world!

Pasta is best cooked al dente. The literal translation is "to the tooth." Pasta should be firm yet still be tender when eaten.