19 Aug 2021 --- Researchers have developed pasta that packs flat but takes on a 3D form when cooked. This “morphing mechanism” could save an estimated 59 to 86 percent in packaging space during shipping and storage by reducing the air space, according to the Science Advances-published study. “Grooving” the pasta surface with geometric indents can transform the food into various curly and twisted shapes. Carefully planning these grooves allows the researchers to control the shape pasta forms when it is cooked, including penne, rigatoni, fusilli and rotini.
