Pasta is a major staple in any kitchen because of its versatility and filling nature. Making pasta is not that hard, but making good pasta is a talent that goes underappreciated.
The next time you’re eating good pasta from an Italian restaurant thinking to yourself “Man, I wish I could make pasta this great,” remember one important thing: The pasta you’re eating probably hasn’t come from a box. There is a good chance the people in the kitchen have hand crafted those ravioli on your plate and you can taste the difference. And the good news is that you don’t have to go without that difference, because you can have a simple pasta maker right in your own home.
Sometimes called a “pasta machine,” a pasta maker does just what its name promises: it makes delicious, fresh pasta. It rolls out dough chunks into flat sheets or whatever the desired shape is based on the kind of pasta maker you have. They come with a crank on the side since it requires rolling by hand, but if that doesn’t sound appealing. If you’re making something like lasagna, you can leave the flattened sheet of dough whole, or you can cut it up if you want to make something smaller like ravioli. Most past makes come with the ability to make many varieties of pasta.
One of the top rated pasta makers on Amazon, the CucinaPro Imperia Pasta Machine promises amazing looking, even better tasting pasta made fresh right in your home. The roller is about 6 inches long, the maker is 8 pounds heavy, and is made of chrome-plated steel, giving it a formidable sturdiness.
Along with being able to roll sheets, the CucinaPro comes with attachments to make fettuccine and spaghetti. If there’s a kind of pasta missing from this possibility arsenal, then there are additional purchase options to bring those home as well. On top of all this, if you’re not sure where to begin with making pasta at home, the CucinaPro comes with a small cookbook to get you started.
If the idea of hand-cranking pasta seems like a bit much, the Atlas Electric Pasta Machine might be what you’re looking for. It weighs a hefty 8 pounds and lets you make three kinds of pasta: fettuccine, lasagna, and spaghetti round. The maker itself is made of chrome and nickel for strength and comes with a motor that can be detached and used with other Atlas attachments. The maker itself comes with nine settings for thickness to give you the perfect size of pasta for your needs.
With the Atlas Electric Pasta Maker, you get a clamp to help fasten the machine to the table, leaving both hands free to help the pasta roll through since the big rolling work will be taken care of by the 220v motor. Though a few customers complain that the motor is slow for their tastes, many people find it just the right speed to get cooking done in reasonable time. This set also comes with a small pasta recipe book to guide your imagination in creating spectacular pasta dishes in your own kitchen.
For a cheaper option that won’t break the bank, the Meglio Pro Traditional Style Pasta Maker is a great option for those who still want fresh pasta. The Meglio Pro is about 8” long and has a roller that is 6” long. Stainless steel was the material used to make this particular model. With what it comes with, it can make spaghetti, fettuccine, lasagna, and ravioli. The rollers are adjustable for thickness so you can make the pasta perfectly sized for whatever dish you choose.
If you’re thinking about using the Meglio Pro outdoors or indoors, you’re in good hands because it comes with non-slip feet to keep it from getting knocked around too much. Since this option is one of the more frugal on this list, it might not be the best option for anyone who has had experience with pasta makers before and is looking for a chef-quality product. The Meglio Pro is a great option for anyone looking to give home pasta-making a try without having to purchase the more intense, higher priced makers.
The Roma 6-Inch Traditional Style Pasta Machine has the biggest variety of pastas on this list that can be made without extra attachments: spaghetti, lasagna, linguine, and fettuccine. The thickness ranges from 1-9, giving the greatest variety of choices. It comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty and is made of chromed steel.
Some owners have complained of issues with the hand crank or some instability of the product, which is expected since the parts are made slightly less sturdily to keep the price low. It comes with a C-clamp to reclaim some of its sturdiness and a recipe book to help you figure out what to do with all the choices having this pasta maker comes with.
Another top Amazon pick, the Marcato Atlas Wellness 150 is a stainless steel powerhouse in the kitchen when it comes to dishing out great pasta. This is a manual crank pasta maker that comes with nine varieties of thickness for the pasta you create, ranging from 0.3mm to 2.5mm. Possibilities straight out of the box include tagliolini, fettuccine, and spaghetti. The body is made from chrome plated steel and the rollers are made from anodized aluminium, meaning it should last a long time. Those rollers are better for grabbing at the pasta, making it easier to roll the sheet through without worrying about tearing.
On top of this, the fact that the rollers are not made from heavier metals makes them a healthier option than chrome or nickel. A recipe book comes included, as well as a clamp to keep it still on the table. If you’re feeling for other kinds of pasta, attachments to make linguini or ravioli can be bought separately.
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