Pasta Machines

**jas** · 02-25-2011, 07:01 PM

For a newbie what would be a good entry level one to get.

I have an interest in learning this skill and don't want to go all out at first till I know I will keep it up.

TIA

**Ceashels** · 02-25-2011, 07:45 PM

I haven't been making pasta long but at most you'll need to buy is a pasta roller. The dough is typically flour and eggs, with the addition of water, flavors (spinach or tomato juices) and perhaps oil. I mix mine by hand on the counter then put it in the fridge wrapped in cling wrap for 30 mins to 2 days.

Before I purchased a pasta roller I rolled it out by hand using a heavy (marble) rolling pin. It took some effort and a little more time but I recommend you do it this way a few times while trying out new recipes and to see if you want to make pasta more often. You can cut it to any size you want... wide noodles, linguine, lasagna widths. I make pasta maybe once every 2 months and make extra to dry, which I store in mason jars.

My pasta roller is manual and has 7 settings for thickness and an attachable cutter, the hand crank is simply moved to the cutter when I need it. It only has 2 widths for cutting. It came with a dry pastry brush for cleaning (never wash your pasta roller) and a clamp for attaching it to the table or counter top. I sometimes wish I had a third hand to operate it but as long as I use manageable sized pieces... I do alright.

Have fun. Try different flours, my favorite is semolina which is the traditional Italian style but I tend to mix it with AP, spelt or white whole wheat.

**jas** · 02-25-2011, 08:31 PM

Any brand I should look for? What is a starting price? I have a dehydrator and 100's of lbs of wheat. I need to start making things other than just bread.

**Ceashels** · 02-26-2011, 09:54 AM

Mine is a Schule and was the more cost effective decision at the time I purchased it. I don't think there are that many differences between brands but you might find different cutting attachments.

I also have an old plastic pasta machine/extruder but I wasn't thrilled with the quality of it the first time I used it. I might pull it out in the future to see if I can use it to extrude macaroni. But that's another project.

**Contrary Housewife** · 02-26-2011, 10:03 AM

I started with a rolling pin and a ravioli maker, but you don't need one of those to make ravioli.

I got a standard hand crank pasta roller about 15 years ago. It was about $20, but I see they go for much more now. If you're going to buy one I suggest a wide one so you can get bigger sheets from it.

**jas** · 02-26-2011, 12:01 PM

I am going to be out and about today and I think I am going to take a look at some.

Thanks for the tips and I will probably be asking for your favorite pasta recipies soon!

**2ndGenGranola** · 02-26-2011, 03:39 PM

go with the metal hand cranked roller

avoid the plastic like the plague

**jas** · 02-26-2011, 06:47 PM

I went to Bed Bath and Beyond and got one today it was 34.99 and I had a 20% coupon so it cost 28.00. I thought that was reasonable considering I was thinking it was going to be around 50.00 or so. It comes with the attachment to make fettuccini and spaghetti. For now that will be fine. For lasagna I can cut them myself and for ravioli I have this thing from Pampered Chef that I can make them with.

This should be fun!

**shoiji** · 02-26-2011, 07:00 PM

You can also try making gnocchi. They are little dumplings usually made with flour and potato. I like making riccotta gnocchi which uses flour and riccotta cheese.

Once you get the nack of rolling out sheets of pasta you can also make things like ravioli and lasagna.

My grandmother made noodles by hand rolling out sheets of pasta and cutting them.

Hope you enjoy working with the pasta machine.

**jas** · 02-26-2011, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by shoiji

You can also try making gnocchi. They are little dumplings usually made with flour and potato. I like making riccotta gnocchi which uses flour and riccotta cheese.

Once you get the nack of rolling out sheets of pasta you can also make things like ravioli and lasagna.

My grandmother made noodles by hand rolling out sheets of pasta and cutting them.

Hope you enjoy working with the pasta machine.

I am sure going to give it a try. I want to learn as many skills as I can. 1. for the fun and experience and 2. If things really go south I can make more things with all my wheat than bread, plus it has to be better for you home made.

I know pasta at the moment can be pretty cheap to buy pre-made but who knows in the future with everything going up, up, up.

**Nana2two** · 02-26-2011, 09:41 PM

I'm thinking that my kitchen aide mixer has a hook up for a pasta maker. I had one of the huger electric ones when then first came out in the early 90's i think by Ronco.I hated it.

**jas** · 02-26-2011, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by Nana2two

I'm thinking that my kitchen aide mixer has a hook up for a pasta maker. I had one of the huger electric ones when then first came out in the early 90's i think by Ronco.I hated it.

I have a Kitchenade mixer, I looked into the attachment for it and it didn't have good reviews so I decided to go in this direction.

**Ceashels** · 02-27-2011, 07:14 AM

Every now and then I think about getting a KA attachment and selling my pasta machine to save "space" but never looked into it. I won't have to now, Thanks Jas.

**shoiji** · 02-27-2011, 09:53 AM

I really do think there is a difference with homemade pasta. Also, it is a great way to have fun in the kitchen with friends and family rolling out pasta for their meal.

**frugalfoster** · 02-27-2011, 08:08 PM

you can't compare homemade pasta to the ready made kind...homemade blows it out of the water!!! I have one of the metal roller type pasta cutters...it works fantastic and i have certainly gotten my money's worth out of it. Hope you enjoy yours as much as i have enjoyed mine!