# A cure for "spooning" shells

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cure-for-spooning-shells/675827>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [December 8, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cure-for-spooning-shells/675827 "2013-12-08T16:14:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cure-for-spooning-shells/675827/1 "2013-12-08T16:14:15Z")

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When you’re cooking pasta shells, how do you keep them from “spooning”? I’ve been physically separating them, but there has to be a better way.

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cure-for-spooning-shells/675827/2 "2013-12-08T16:19:52Z")

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Bit pot of water with a rigorous boil, and stir with a wooden spoon every so often.

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**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cure-for-spooning-shells/675827/3 "2013-12-08T16:20:34Z")

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I toss them in olive oil before putting them in the water. It takes longer to cook them, but it keeps them from getting stuck like a stack of hats.

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cure-for-spooning-shells/675827/4 "2013-12-08T16:58:28Z")

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Here’s a previous thread on the topic: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=14610010](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=14610010)