What Italian word does Wikipedia give for the colander used to drain spaghetti?

The story behind the answer

The Italian word Wikipedia gives for the colander used to drain spaghetti is scolapasta.

“Scolapasta” literally refers to a pasta-draining utensil: “scola” relates to draining, and “pasta” means pasta. In Italian kitchens, it is the familiar perforated bowl used to separate cooked pasta from its water. The English word “colander” describes the same general type of utensil.

The term does not mean a fork, spoon, or rolling pin. A mestolo is a ladle, a forchetta is a fork, and a mattarello is a rolling pin. Those are useful kitchen tools, but none is the Italian name for the pasta drainer.

The distinction matters because pasta preparation often involves two separate tools. A scolapasta drains the noodles, while a pasta fork, tongs, or spaghetti scoop can lift and serve them. Cooks may also reserve a little cooking water before draining, since its starch can help emulsify and loosen a sauce.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

Add question to a list

Choose a list to keep this question in: