Make Delicious Fresh Pasta at Home

Fresh pasta is delicious and making your own pasta at home is rewarding and easy, and many people are choosing to make their own pasta for its superior taste compared to shop-bought varieties. The only piece of equipment you really need is a pasta machine (of course, you can use a rolling pin, but unless you're an expert the results will not be nearly so good). Most machines are designed to roll and cut the pasta dough, although there are some models on the market which will mix and knead the dough as well. Pasta machines are available two basic types: manual and automatic.

Manual Pasta Machine
Hand-operated pasta machines are nearly always much cheaper than the automatic type, expect to pay between 30 and 120 dollars (2009 prices). The trade-off of course is the additional effort you have to put in. That said, many people actually find the process of manually rolling the dough enjoyable. If you don't plan on making pasta very often, then a manual device might be a good choice. Look for a model which has a sturdy clamp allowing you to firmly anchor it to a table top. The unit should come with a good variety of cutters, a flat lasagne roller and allow at least 6 different  thickness settings. A stainless steel model is generally a better investment than a chrome plated one.

Automatic Machines
Most automatic pasta makers are essentially identical to manual ones, with an added motor; you just feed the pasta into the machine and it rolls and cuts it for you. Often these machines have 2 or more speed settings and can be used in manual mode as well. As with manual machines, look for a stainless steel model with a good range of attachments.

Special-Purpose Machines
The previous machines are capable of producing many different pasta types, such as spaghetti, lasagne, fettuccine, etc. If you want to make some other pasta varieties, then there are dedicated machines on the market. These include ravioli, gnocchi and cavetelle makers.

Using a Pasta Machine
Whether you use an automatic or manual machine, the process is essentially the same. You pass the dough through the machine on its thickest setting, fold it in half (sprinkling a little flour on if the dough is sticky), and pass it through again. After doing this half a dozen times, you set the machine to the next thinner setting and pass it through again; repeating the process until the pasta is at the desired thickness. After letting the dough rest for 10 minutes, you simply attach the appropriate cutter to the machine and pass the dough through once more to cut it.  

As you can see, it needn't be expensive or difficult to make pasta at home. All you need is a few cheap ingredients, a basic pasta machine, and a little bit of effort. The results can be truly delicious and rewarding!

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