You thought it was just for draining

What Is the Hole in a Spaghetti Spoon For?

The hole in a spaghetti spoon is not only for draining water. On many spoons, it also measures roughly one serving of dry spaghetti.

Quick answer

Two things. First: it drains excess water when you scoop pasta out of the pot. That part most people know. Second — and this is the one that went viral — on spoons with a single center hole, the hole is sized to hold one serving of dry spaghetti. Push a bundle of raw spaghetti through the hole until it fills the opening, and that's one adult portion. Some spoons have multiple holes purely for drainage and won't work as a measure. But if yours has one center hole, you've had a portion gauge in your drawer the whole time.

A pasta spoon with a single center hole, shown next to a handful of dry spaghetti

First job

Drain water when serving

Hidden job

Measure one pasta serving

Works on all spoons?

Only single-hole types

Serving size it measures

Roughly 80–100g dry

You've been guessing pasta amounts for years with the answer in your drawer

Most people know the hole drains water. That's the obvious function — you can watch it happen.

The measuring function only works on single-hole spoons, and only for spaghetti specifically. Grab a bundle of dry spaghetti and push it through the hole. The amount that fills the opening is roughly one adult portion — around 80 to 100 grams.

This went viral on Imgur in 2016 and people reacted like they'd been personally deceived for years. Reactions ranged from 'how did I not know this' to 'I thought it was just to drain the water.'

Myth vs Reality

Myth

Every spaghetti spoon hole measures one serving.

The viral claim made it sound universal. People grabbed their multi-hole pasta spoons and were confused when the trick didn't work.

Reality

It only works on single-hole spoons — and even then varies.

Multi-hole spoons drain, they don't measure. Even on single-hole spoons, the hole size varies by manufacturer, so the portion might be slightly off. It's a useful rough guide, not a laboratory measurement.

Single hole vs multiple holes — not the same

Single center hole: Drains water. Also calibrated to approximate one adult serving of dry spaghetti when the hole is filled. The version the viral tip refers to.
Multiple holes: Purely for drainage. Holes are different sizes and are not designed for measuring. The portion trick doesn't apply.
No hole (solid center with teeth only): Drainage happens between the tines. No measuring function. Common in some European designs.