Finding the best pasta maker for you
Australians love their pasta. While dried pasta is convenient, and dressed in the right sauce it can even be delicious, it never quite beats fresh pasta. Real, Italian style pasta made from scratch is also more achievable than you might realise - especially if you have a high quality pasta maker.
But how do you know which pasta machine is right for you?
Here’s a little guide to help.
Operation and types of pasta makers
How does a pasta maker machine work and do electric ones make the best pasta makers? What about a noodle maker, where does that come in and is it a separate machine? Read on to learn more.
Manual pasta makers
A manual pasta maker is operated by a hand crank for easy leverage and is ideal for thin sheets of pasta dough such as pasta sheets for lasagna or for prepping ravioli so it’s ready to fill. They are also good for other long, flat noodles such as fettuccine or linguine.
Other distinguishing features include:
Bench clamp for securing the pasta maker to the countertop
Adjustable rollers to let you set your preferred thickness settings
Stainless steel construction for corrosion resistance
Easy cleaning thanks to removable pasta rollers and pasta cutters
Plenty of colours and width varieties to choose from
Recipe book and instructions included
Electric pasta makers
An electric pasta maker does the same job but quickly and more efficiently, eliminating the need for a crank handle and resulting in a faster pasta making experience.
Other distinguishing features include:
Interchangeable rollers and cutters for different pastas
Some models can be used both automatically and manually
On/off and pulse controls
Adjustable chrome plated rollers let you set your preferred thickness settings
Stainless steel construction for corrosion resistance
Easy cleaning thanks to removable pasta rollers and pasta cutters
Plenty of colour varieties to choose from
Recipe book and instructions included
Deciding between a manual or electric pasta machine
Deciding between the two comes down to affordability, frequency of use, and how comfortable you are in the kitchen. Manual makers are great for first-time pasta makers and are comparatively less expensive than electrical models. Plus, they are more energy efficient since they require no power.
However, if pasta making at home is (or becomes) a weekly fixture in your rotation, upgrading to an electrical model will reduce the amount of time you spend rolling and cutting and is the fastest way to make authentic pasta dishes.
Before buying, consider:
Ease of use when making pasta
Speed of use when cooking
Which cutter attachments are included
Ease of cleaning and detachable parts
Types of pasta you want to make
Warranty available on the machine
Pasta maker vs. noodle maker
You don’t need an individual noodle maker to make spaghetti or egg noodles. Some electric pasta machines do everything from start to finish such as the Philips Original Pasta & Noodle Maker - all you have to do is add your ingredients and it handles the entire process. You can also achieve uniformed noodles using a regular pasta maker with a spaghetti cutter or fettuccine cutter attachment.
How to make homemade pasta
If you have flour, eggs and oil at home, you are ready to make your own tasty, fresh pasta. Pasta recipes are available on our blog. Favourites include:
Making Homemade Pasta with Julia Ostro
How to Make Fresh Handmade Pasta
Homemade Fettuccine with Fresh Tomatoes & Burrata Cheese
Is making delicious fresh pasta at home easy?
Ah, the million dollar question! Pasta making is relatively easy but, like anything, practise makes perfect. It’s definitely easier than you would assume - especially with a pasta making machine - and, if you want to replicate the true taste of Italy, then you will find it incredibly worthwhile. Not only will your meals taste more authentic, you have complete control over your ingredients too and can create gluten free options; great for your family’s health and wellness.
HINT: Got a KitchenAid stand mixer? Not only will it help you prepare the dough, you can also buy pasta making attachments for it, instantly transforming it into an electric pasta maker in its own right.
Different types of pasta you can make
Once you’ve nailed the basic recipe for pasta dough there’s no limit to the types of pasta dishes you can create. Here are some of the most popular types of pasta our customers like to make:
Ravioli. These tasty pockets of flavour are often the reason many people turn to pasta making to begin with since experimenting with your own fillings is half the fun.
Lasagne. A great place to start, lasagne sheets are wide and are less intricate to handle compared to other types of pasta.
Tagliolini/tagliatelle. Often assumed to be the same, taglierini pasta is thinner than tagliatelle and takes slightly longer to cook whereas tagliolini pasta is slightly rounder and slimmer, taking less time to cook.
Pappardelle. These long, flat ribbons of egg pasta are broader than fettuccine and are ideal for creating rich, hearty and intense dishes.
Pasta shapes. From penne and fusilli all the way through to the lesser known sorpresine you can have a lot of fun rolling and shaping pasta dough.
Best pasta makers from brands we know and trust
All brands of pasta makers offer something unique so there is no ‘one’ best option. However, some of our bestselling brands include Bialetti, Marcato, Philips, and Gefu.
Best pasta makers from brands we know and trust
Marcato offers a broad range of pasta machines ranging from manual through to electric. You can also buy added attachments such as the Marcato Atlas pasta drive motor attachment, which attaches to any Marcato Atlas or Marcato Ampia machine to help speed things up. One of the bestselling models in the range is the Marcato Atlas 150 Pasta Machine.
Accessories
Which accessories should you add to your wishlist?
Al Dente Drying Rack
Al Dente Ravioli Maker
FAQs:
What does a pasta maker do?
A pasta maker is used to roll thin sheets of pasta dough so it can then be cut and shaped. You can get accessories and attachments that will help with the cutting as well as for creating noodles.
Take your ball of pasta dough and flatten into a circle on a wooden board then begin to feed the dough through the pasta machine, starting at the widest setting.
After moving through two more settings, fold the pasta sheet onto itself so it is slightly narrower than the width of the machine. Do this three times, setting the machine back to the widest setting and roll back through the first settings again, folding and flattening the pasta dough before each roll.
Continue to roll the pasta dough through the settings until the sheet is around 1.5mm thick.
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Want more? Also see:
Cookware
Kitchenware
Kitchen appliances
Pasta drying rack
Gnocchi board
Rolling pin
Spiralizer
Grills
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