You can take the Lupo out of Siracuso but you can't take the Siracuso out of the Lupo

(also seriously, you can just put the pasta in vertically and wait for it to soften if you aren't able to find a bigger pot)

T-A-C said in comment #2586504:

You can take the Lupo out of Siracuso but you can't take the Siracuso out of the Lupo

(also seriously, you can just put the pasta in vertically and wait for it to soften if you aren't able to find a bigger pot)

Yeah, just put in the pasta vertically. No need for it to be broken in two

GolfFoxtrotLima said in comment #2586553:

Yeah, just put in the pasta vertically. No need for it to be broken in two

The reason people break pasta in two is to prevent one end of the pasta to be overcooked while the other end was al dente, or to prevent the dry pasta from burning if they only have small pot (other than that, mostly laziness of washing larger pot if they have it).

Not to mention, pasta should only be put into the pot when the water's already boiling...

Okay but why is this supposed to be a problem?
Like, at least every other food crime committed against italians is a bastardization of an existing dish, this is just making the noodles shorter.
I would understand the disgust if the pasta was being cut, because that's the sign of a psychopath, but this is just being whiny for the sake of being whiny.

Incineration said in comment #2586566:

Okay but why is this supposed to be a problem?
Like, at least every other food crime committed against italians is a bastardization of an existing dish, this is just making the noodles shorter.
I would understand the disgust if the pasta was being cut, because that's the sign of a psychopath, but this is just being whiny for the sake of being whiny.

It's the same 'problem' with the italian dictate where you shouldn't cut your pasta.

Rathurue said in comment #2586563:

The reason people break pasta in two is to prevent one end of the pasta to be overcooked while the other end was al dente, or to prevent the dry pasta from burning if they only have small pot (other than that, mostly laziness of washing larger pot if they have it).

Not to mention, pasta should only be put into the pot when the water's already boiling...

Want to mention, the top side of pasta might stick to the pot

Rathurue said in comment #2586563:

The reason people break pasta in two is to prevent one end of the pasta to be overcooked while the other end was al dente, or to prevent the dry pasta from burning if they only have small pot [....]

If you bring the water to a rolling boil first (which, as you noted, you should be doing anyway), it'll take less than half a minute to soften enough that you can push the rest in. That's not long enough to make a meaningful difference.

Alanis, killed by a Guard named Rossi