Does breaking spaghetti noodles before cooking make them tough?

Here's why:

* The Pasta Structure: Spaghetti is made from durum wheat flour and water. When you cook pasta, the starch in the flour absorbs water and gelatinizes, which gives it its texture.

* Boiling Water: The heat of the boiling water is what softens the pasta, not the length. Breaking the spaghetti before cooking doesn't change the cooking process or the way the starch gelatinizes.

* Even Cooking: Breaking the spaghetti might make it slightly easier to fit in the pot and for the water to circulate around it, potentially leading to more even cooking.

However, breaking spaghetti *can* affect other aspects:

* Aesthetically: Some people prefer the look of long spaghetti strands, and breaking them can be seen as a personal preference.

* Serving: If you're making a dish where you need shorter strands, breaking spaghetti before cooking is practical.

So, feel free to break your spaghetti if you like. It won't affect its toughness, but it can make it more convenient or aesthetically pleasing, depending on your purpose!