Best Manual Pasta Makers
Spaghetti, fettuccini, ravioli; regardless of the shape, there is something deliciously comforting about a steaming plate of pasta covered in a rich, shimmering tomato or meat sauce. In fact, almost six out of 10 Americans, or 59 percent say they eat pasta once a week, with 68 percent of them preferring spaghetti.
When it comes to an easy-to-make comfort food, pasta is a delicious and satisfying choice. Pasta noodles come in many sizes and shapes and are widely available in grocery stores, dried and boxed and sitting on the shelf for weeks or months. These are good in a pinch, but if you want to be authentically Italian, freshly made pasta is the way to go.
With a good manual pasta machine, you can make your own noodles at home every day, any way you like it. Choose your topping, and you’re ready for a taste of Italy.
We narrow down the four best manual pasta machines you can buy online. Read on and find the right one that fits your style and taste.
Top Pick Best Quality: Marcato Design Atlas 150 Pasta Machine
When you were growing up, you loved the pasta dishes your Nonna made. You would watch her make the dough, knead it by hand, roll it out into a long stretch of dough and then, with a sharp knife, carefully cut it into strips – thin for spaghetti, thicker for fettuccine, wider for lasagna. It was a long process and you could taste the love she put into it when Nonna put a steaming heap on your plate, covered in shimmering sauce and a meatball. You promised yourself that when you grew up, you’d make fresh pasta like your Nonna.
Well, now you’re an adult and you still want to make fresh pasta at home but don’t have the time to do it by hand the old-fashioned way. If you are looking for an Italian-made manual pasta machine that will get the job done right just like Nonna, then this is the model for you.
For a premium manual pasta machine that has been called the Ferrari of the pasta machine world by Cook’s Illustrated, we recommend the Marcato Design Atlas 150 Pasta Machine. This quality machine rolls and cuts pasta dough for home use so you can make traditional lasagna, fettuccine and tagliolini-shaped noodles in the comfort of your kitchen.
This chrome plated steel model comes packed with great features to ensure perfect pasta every time. There are lots of options for the thickness of the dough, something you’ll need if you want to make different kinds of pasta. This machine lets you roll sheets of dough to 150-millimeters wide at 10 different thicknesses, from 0.6 millimeters to 4.8 millimeters, giving you plenty of flexibility.
The adjustment dial easily controls the dough for consistent texture, cook time and taste. The Atlas 150 kit includes the pasta machine, a pasta cutter, hand crank and clamp. Measuring 8 x 8 x 7 inches and weighing only 5.41 lbs., this dynamic device won’t take up too much room on your workspace. And when you’re done, the pasta maker wipes clean with a dry brush or cloth after each use.
This is a durable and reliable machine that you’ll have for a long time, however, sometimes life’s circumstances change. What if one day you want to switch from a manual machine to an electric pasta maker, or have more cutting options for the shapes and sizes of the noodles. Well, it won’t be necessary to buy a new pasta-making machine. You can easily attach a pasta drive motor to the Atlas 150 as well as any of its 12 pasta-cutting accessories, which are sold separately. Now that’s value and flexibility.
Oh, did we mention this mighty machine comes with a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty? Talk about quality assurance.
Pros:
- Makes three different pasta shapes
- Cuts pasta dough at 10 different thicknesses
- Comes with a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty
- Easily attach a pasta drive motor or any of 12-pasta-cutting accessories (sold separately)
Cons:
- Not dishwasher safe
Top Pick Best Versatile: GOURMEX Stainless Steel Manual Pasta Maker
You’re the kitchen ninja in your family, cooking up ingeniously planned meals every day of the week. You love being in charge and make sure to use only quality ingredients in everything you make. Pasta plays a big part in many of your recipes and lately you’ve been thinking of replacing boxed pasta for the fresh, homemade variety, but you’re new to the game. If you’re looking for a versatile, manual pasta machine to make delicious fresh pasta every day, then this is the machine for you.
For a professional-style quality manual pasta maker that will help you get the job done right, we recommend the GOURMEX Stainless Steel Manual Pasta Maker.
This pasta maker is made of heavy-duty stainless steel for the highest level of kitchen performance and deliverance. Packed with features, this model has adjustable thickness settings. Whether you enjoy your lasagna thick and soft, your angel hair long and thin, or your ravioli even thinner than that, this machine is up to the task.
With seven different thickness settings, it perfectly kneads your pasta dough for success, every time. The double cutter head attachment gives you the option to choose your width preference, allowing you to prepare wide fettuccine or thin spaghetti. If you want to make both, just prepare a large ball of dough, divide it in half, choose one width, and then easily change the setting to cut the other.
Measuring 8.27 x 7.87 x 6.22 inches and weighing 6.14 pounds, this compact machine with a detachable handle and clamp takes up minimal space while giving you maximum performance. Good looks, easy to use, versatile – it’s all you’ll need to make perfect fresh pasta every time.
Pros:
- Quick and easy assembly
- Seven thickness settings
- Adjustable steel rollers for kneading
- Clean and elegant design
- Compact storage
- Comes with clamp and removable handle
- Clear recipe/ guide book included
Cons:
- Not easy to clean
Top Pick Best High-End: Imperia Pasta Maker
Only the very best will do, especially when it comes to choosing small kitchen appliances, cooking tools and gadgets. You don’t mind paying more for a top-quality product that not only does the job, but will keep on working for many years of cooking pleasure.
One of your favorite foods to eat is pasta, and you enjoy creating a variety of sauces and toppings to cover your noodles. Now you want to take it a step further by making your own fresh pasta right in the comfort of your kitchen. If you’re looking for a high-end manual pasta maker made in Italy that will stand the test of time, then this model is for you.
For a manual pasta machine that includes everything you need to make perfect homemade pasta every time, we recommend the Imperia Pasta Maker. This made-in Italy model is easy to use and comes with a detachable, rotating handle and a secure clamp that fits solidly onto your work surface so the machine will not move or slide while you are using it.
A mini pasta-making factory, this model comes with all the necessary tools and gadgets you will need to make a variety of fresh homemade tagliatelle, lasagna or ravioli with your own custom-made fillings. A choice of six thickness settings for precision cutting means you get the kind of pasta you want, every time.
Durable and precision-engineered in heavy-duty chrome plated steel, this set includes four detachable cutters, one pasta brush, a pasta roller, ravioli tools and two wooden scoops. Not sure where to start or how to even make the dough? No worries. This model includes a helpful recipe book.
You’re going to love making fresh pasta with the Imperia pasta maker machine. Pass on the experience and give it as a gift for the cooking enthusiast in your life. They won’t stop thanking you.
Pros:
- Made in Italy
- Durable construction, made from heavy-duty chrome plated steel
- Easy to use
- Comes with tools, instruction booklet and recipes
Cons:
- Sometimes pasta can stick to the holes
Top Pick Best Affordable: CHEFLY Sturdy Homemade Pasta Maker
You’ve heard that fresh-made pasta is far superior in taste, texture and flavor to the store-bought variety. Cooking has recently become your passion and you spend hours in the kitchen experimenting with foods from various cultures. Italian food is one of your favorite meals and you usually purchase pasta noodles in a box at the grocery store. You’d love to be able to make your fresh pasta at home, but you’re on a budget. If you’re looking for a good manual pasta machine that won’t burn a hole in your wallet, then this is the model for you.
For delicious fresh pasta made from scratch, we recommend the CHEFLY Sturdy Homemade Pasta Maker. Measuring 7.8 x 7.48 x 5.98 inches and weighing only 6.05 lbs., this affordable lightweight model won’t take up too much space on your kitchen counter or table.
This handy pasta-making machine simplifies the task of making popular noodle shapes like fettuccine, lasagna, linguine, spaghetti, vermicelli, angel hair and tagliatelle. Choose from nine different settings of dough thickness, from 0-2.5 millimeters, and two different dough widths, 7 millimeters and 2 millimeters. Just pull and rotate the knob to get the desired thickness. Numbers 1-5 on the dial are better for making thicker sheets for pasta, while numbers 6-9 produce thinner sheets, which work better for ravioli.
Easy to use, this model comes with a convenient clamp and a non-skid base to hold the pasta maker in place. Once your dough is ready, just slip the crank into a socket on the side of the machine, turn it, and the roller does all the work flattening the dough. In no time at all you’ll be cutting those sheets of smooth dough into fresh noodles. The brackets on this model are made from stainless steel so there is no rusting and the roller and blades are nickel and chrome-plated steel for long-lasting durability.
And when you’re done, the CHEFLY manual pasta maker is easy to clean. Just wipe the machine with a dry soft cloth and let it air dry for one hour. For any sticky bits, use a cleaning brush until they are gone. Functional, efficient, affordable, it’s even backed by a one-year warranty. You can look forward to many delicious meals made with your own fresh pasta noodles and favorite sauce. Buon appetito.
Pros:
- Affordable
- One-year warranty
Cons:
- Makes small ravioli
Things to look out for:
Consider these things when looking for a manual pasta maker so you will choose a model that works best to suit your needs:
Cost
The cost of a manual pasta maker varies from affordable to very expensive. Sometimes the higher price is reflective of the manufacturer. Brands known for making high-quality products that last a long time usually cost more. A higher price is sometimes also related to the variety of pasta shapes it makes. It’s never a good idea to spend more than you can afford, so when choosing a price range, consider how much you will use the pasta maker. If it’s going to spend a lot of time in the cupboard and used infrequently, you may not want to spend top dollar. If homemade pasta is something you will make often, then it pays to spend a bit more money for a quality machine that will last for years.
Easy to use
The very fact of using a manual pasta maker instead of cutting pasta by hand already makes the task easier. However, features to look for that will further enhance the ease of use include a good clamp and non-skid bottom so the pasta maker stays in place while you work, a knob or dial that’s easy to adjust to different thicknesses, and a handle that stays in place.