Brits are serious about their pasta. Nearly half of adults think eating it without a sauce is "a crime," a recent survey has found.
Plain pasta eaters are facing harsh judgment, with 44 per cent labelling them "boring."
Other culinary sins include under-salting the water, overcooking until mushy, or serving it on a cold plate. Shockingly, nine per cent also think ketchup on pasta is completely unacceptable.
The survey, conducted by Dolmio to mark World Pasta Day, revealed some cheeky trends.
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Photographer Sophie Harris-Taylor captured pasta "creatively photographed to resemble body parts," sending a saucy message: pasta is "meant to be saucy, never bare."
Over half of adults admitted to eating plain pasta at least once.
Are social media trends changing the way we eat pasta?
Around 39 per cent of Brits are keen to try something new. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are inspiring fresh pasta ideas.
More than one in ten (13 per cent) have tried a new sauce after spotting it online, while 12 per cent added cottage cheese and eight per cent plan to try pistachios.
Even unusual combos like pasta with pickles or cola are being tested by ten per cent of adults.
Despite the trend-chasing, classics remain firm favourites. Bolognese leads at 47 per cent, followed by carbonara (25 per cent) and tomato and basil (21 per cent).
Spaghetti, penne, and fusilli are the nation's most popular shapes, with garlic bread and salad as top sides.
Hana Hutchinson from Dolmio said: "We're excited by the way consumers are mixing tradition with the latest viral sensations.
"That spirit of exploration is providing 'food for thought' ahead of our next product innovations."
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