The grocery store is packed with pasta shapes. Before you reach for a box, learn about what makes each shape different and which recipes work best with your go-to noodle.

The shapes aren't just for fun ... with ziti being a big exception. If you want tubular pasta for sauced dishes, rigid penne ...

For mozzarella, use Muenster or other similar melty cheese. For rigatoni, use ziti, cavatappi or other short, tubular pasta shape. Variations: To make this dish more weeknight-friendly ...

Use a pasta with hollows, such as a short tubular shape like penne or conchiglie (sea shells). Put 4 tablespoons of butter into the skillet with the onion. Cook the onion, stirring frequently ...