Best Pasta Makers
People have been coming up with all sorts of creations in their kitchens lately but one of the most ambitious undertakings is to make your own pasta. It’s not as hard to do as you might think, though, especially after you get used to working with the dough. You could try painstakingly creating pasta from scratch by rolling out the dough and cutting it into thin strips with a knife, but a pasta maker machine can do this for you faster, more efficiently, and with more professional-looking, evenly cut noodles.
Types of Pasta Makers
There are three types of pasta makers: manual and electric rolling pasta makers, and pasta extruders.
Rolling pasta makers are good for making flat pasta such as fettucine or linguini. With manual rolling pasta makers, you prepare the dough first, and then feed it manually through the machine’s rollers, using a handle to crank it through. This is a very versatile way to make pasta. They can create anything from lasagna to ravioli squares, to thin spaghetti or thicker fettucine. They can’t do special shapes, though. Electric rolling pasta makers are like the manual ones except they work automatically using a motor.
When choosing a rolling machine, look for a wide range of pasta thickness settings, with different attachments to create different types of pasta. The machine should be smooth and sturdy, with a clamp to secure the machine to your table or counter top, and easy to clean.
Pasta extruders take your freshly kneaded dough, and push (extrude) it through the machine in a squeezing motion similar to a tube of toothpaste, to create your desired pasta shape. They can make most types of pasta, such as rigatoni or spirals, but not wide sheets like lasagna.
When choosing an extruder, look for one that is easy to set up and use, quick when preparing the dough, and easy to clean.
Let’s check out some of the best pasta makers on the market today:
Imperia Pasta Maker Machine – best overall pasta maker
This popular model is extremely reliable and highly recommended by pasta maker enthusiasts. The Imperia brand has been crafted in Italy since 1932. In the United States, this brand is distributed by Cucina Pro. The Imperia pasta maker is made of highly polished chromed steel, and contains no aluminum, which means it is built to last. It is heavy duty and reliable. It has a wood handle that is easy to grip.
This machine has two pasta rollers: one to make solid sheets and the other for making fettucine or linguine. It is equipped with a metal plate that helps feed the pasta sheets into the roller more easily. It has seven pasta thickness settings.
The Imperia is very sturdy, as it clamps to your table or countertop to avoid budging and moving while making the pasta. This also frees your hands to you can easily feed the dough through the rollers. The clamp is adjustable and can accommodate thick counter tops.
The Imperia is easy to learn, simple to use, and easy to wipe clean. It makes thin, even sheets and cuts the fettucine and spaghetti shapes very well (additional cutters and even molds for ravioli can be purchased separately). With six thicknesses and attachments to make other types of pasta, this machine gives you the versatility to choose whichever type of pasta you prefer.
One negative is it has a guiding tray that can easily be knocked out of place. Another issue is its roller knob, which requires two hands to operate. You actually have to hold down a button before you can turn the knob, which means you have to put the pasta down while adjusting the knob. This is especially a problem if you are working with a delicate type of pasta dough.
Pros
• Reliable and highly recommended
• Heavy duty and reliable
• Two pasta rollers
• Clamps to side of table or counter top
• Easy to learn
Cons
• Roller requires two hands; hard to adjust with just one hand
• Guiding tray can be easily knocked out of place
• Price
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Marcato Atlas Pasta Machine – most popular on Amazon
This is the #1 best-selling pasta maker on Amazon.com, and for good reason. Made in Italy, the Marcato Atlas is constructed of high quality, durable chrome-plated steel, and comes in a variety of colors. This machine is sturdy and doesn’t rock or otherwise budge when cranking the pasta.
A lot of thought went into its design, and there is considerable attention to detail. It is easy to use and effortless.
This machine has 10 pasta thickness settings, to suit whichever way you like your pasta. You can make pasta as thick as 4.8 mm or as thin as 0.6 mm, and you can make lasagna, fettucine, or tagliolini. Simply pull the knob and rotate it to the desired setting. The knob is easy to adjust with just one hand, which is convenient if you are holding dough in the other hand. There are 13 accessories included with purchase, including a variety of cutters.
Users have found that this machine effortlessly handles any task. When feeding the dough into the rollers, you can hold the sheet in one hand and crank the handle with the other. It is easy to cut the dough. To do this, you simply need to use the fettucine and spaghetti attachment, which is included with purchase. Once attached, the machine cuts the pasta to size with restaurant-grade quality.
There is even a special attachment included that can convert this manual machine to an electric, automatic pasta maker.
Pros
• Very sturdy
• Knob to change pasta thickness settings can be operated with one hand
• 13 accessories including numerous restaurant-grade cutters
• Includes attachment to convert to electric version
Cons
• Price
Cucina Pro Pasta Maker Deluxe – best value
This manual pasta maker is modelled after the “best overall’ on this list – the Imperia. This one is made with aluminum, making it lighter and thus less expensive. It is also less polished and less smooth compared to the Imperia.
However, the Cucino Pro offers quite a few perks. It has nine pasta thickness settings, and the knob controlling the pasta thickness settings pulls out and rotates, which makes it easy to use. It comes with the standard fettucine and spaghetti cutters, as well as numerous attachments so you don’t need to spend more money to make different types of pasta. Want to try making angel hair pasta or ravioli? You can with the Cucina Pro.
This machine is not quite as reliable as the Imperia, in that its knob settings are not standardized the way other machines are, and there is some experimenting to be done in order to get the pasta sheets as thin as with other machines.
Pros
• Less expensive
• Nine thickness settings
• Thickness settings knob is easy to use
• Can create numerous different types of pasta
Cons
• Not as heavy as other machines
• Knob settings are not as standardized as with other machines
• Need to play around before achieving pasta as thin as with other machines
KitchenAid KPEXTA Stand-Mixer Pasta-Extruder – best extruder
It may have a long name, but this extruder is simple and easy to use. It is designed mostly to make traditional types of pasta (spaghetti or macaroni) from freshly kneaded dough, but it can also be used as a stand mixer. In addition, KitchenAid provides a book of recipes with this extruder.
Using this machine to make your pasta will save your energy. You simply place your freshly kneaded dough in the dough chamber of the extruder, and start turning the handle, at which point your shaped pasta will start coming out. However, some users have found this extruder takes more time than simply rolling and cutting the pasta yourself. Some also find this machine to be a bit noisy.
The KitchenAid extruder is made of non-corrosive material (plastic) so it is safe for you and your family, and it is easy to clean with water. Most of its parts are hand washable. The extruder comes with a cleaning brush for added ease. Because it is made of plastic, there is the small risk that this machine could crack. It also comes with some tools, including a wrench, just in case.
Pros
• Simple and easy to use
• Makes traditional pasta
• Saves your energy
• Versatile – can be used as stand mixer
Cons
• Entirely made of plastic, so it could crack
• Can be noisy
• Takes a longer time than rolling and cutting
KitchenAid KPEXTA Stand-Mixer Pasta-Extruder
Philips Pasta Maker – best automatic pasta maker
This may be the easiest to use of all the products mentioned in this article. If you want to make pasta with as little fuss as possible, this machine should do the trick. Simply add the ingredients, and then wait for the machine to do its magic. It will mix and knead the dough, and extrude the pasta out for you. The entire process takes about 15 minutes.
The Philips pasta maker can create a variety of types of pasta, including spaghetti, penne, fettucine, and lasagna. It is a small machine but it can make two to three servings of pasta at a time.
The automatic kneading and mixing are key features of this machine. The only thing you have to do is combine the all-purpose flour, water, and additional ingredients into the machine. The Philips pasta maker works efficiently, with minimal waste compared to other pasta makers.
An LED display will show you how far into the process your pasta has progressed. In fact, the digital features of this machine helps users better understand how pasta processing works and control/adjust the process according to their own cooking requirements. This is a feature many users appreciate. You can also check how your dough is coming along via a see-through compartment. However, you do not need to do any of this if you don’t want to – you can simply set the required time and walk away until your pasta is ready.
As the pasta comes out of the machine, you simply need to cut it to whichever length you prefer, and then you’re done! This machine has an automatic shut-down system, which makes it very safe to use.
The Philips pasta maker has detachable parts to make it easier to clean. Still, some users feel it requires more after care than other machines. It comes with special tools to clean out bits of dough, along with a recipe book.
Pros
• Easy to use, very little fuss, just add ingredients
• Time from adding ingredients to getting finished product is 15 minutes
• Digital technology
• Ability to see how far along your dough and pasta are coming
• Automatic shut off
Cons
• Some users find it requires more care after using
There are many options to choose from when looking for a pasta maker. From the relatively inexpensive manual pasta machine to the manual extruder and the luxurious electric pasta maker, there is something to suit everyone’s budget, time, and interest.
If you’re not sure this is going to be your new hobby, it might make sense to start with something inexpensive like the Cucina Pro. It has enough attachments and gadgets to help you explore the various facets of pasta making, while staying within a reasonable price point. On the other hand, if you’re pretty sure you have a passion for pasta making, something better quality like the Imperia or Marcato Atlas pasta makers could be right up your alley. If you’re ready for a higher end manual device, consider the KitchenAid extruder, and if you just really want the convenience of an electric device that does it all, regardless of price, the Philips pasta maker may be the one for you.