What do I want in a pasta maker?

I want to make my own pasta. I've done it before by hand, but the shapes and rolling make it time-consuming.

Wants:

• Small footprint (small kitchen and I live alone)
• Sheets or shapes, but not a big deal if I cant make penne or fusili
• Electric preferred

Long shot, but any chance you already have a kitchen aid mixer? They make an attachment that works well. 

Steve_Jones said:

Long shot, but any chance you already have a kitchen aid mixer? They make an attachment that works well. 

This. It's the easiest button out there.

In reply to Steve_Jones :

Exactly what I was coming to suggest

Steve_Jones said:

Long shot, but any chance you already have a kitchen aid mixer? They make an attachment that works well. 

We have this and it's fantastic. 

• 5'5"  
• Nice tatas
• Bangin dumper
• Smart, but not too smart
• Doesnt watch finances too close

93gsxturbo

She was 70+ years old and not too tall, tough lady living by herself in Chicago and she made some really good cheese raviolis for New Year's Day every year.  Good Italian sausage too.  Not sure about her dumper though....
 

We have the imported from Italy style you see on all the cooking shows. It clamps to the counter top. I think they make an electric attachment for it. Can't recall the brand.

93gsxturbo said:

• 5'5"  
• Nice tatas
• Bangin dumper
• Smart, but not too smart
• Doesnt watch finances too close

 

Came here to post this. The kitchenaid attachment works well too when she's too busy 

I like to focus on the ergonomics and intuitive to use aspects. Easy to use with no need for instructions.

In reply to NOHOME :

Have you seen Lydia's cooking show? I'm an old guy - I'll take the one who can really cook........LOL  

Ranger50 said:

Steve_Jones said:

Long shot, but any chance you already have a kitchen aid mixer? They make an attachment that works well. 

This. It's the easiest button out there.

No.  I only have a handheld mixer.  Very limited on space.

Datsun310Guy said:

In reply to NOHOME :

Have you seen Lydia's cooking show? I'm an old guy - I'll take the one who can really cook........LOL  

I used to watch her a ton.  Tutti a tavola a mangiare.  She has a restaurant in Pittsburgh that is fantastic. 

Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:

Datsun310Guy said:

In reply to NOHOME :

Have you seen Lydia's cooking show? I'm an old guy - I'll take the one who can really cook........LOL  

I used to watch her a ton.  Tutti a tavola a mangiare.  She has a restaurant in Pittsburgh that is fantastic. 

OT but do you happen to remember what it's called? I could do with some good Italian cooking.

I just had dinner in St. Louis this Wednesday - The Hill - Chicken parmigiana. 

Then the wife processed all her tomatoes and made some great sauce then a great pasta dinner tonight.  
 

This one looks like something I could do.  Dump ingredients and it spits out various shapes... but they're all extruded shapes, like spaghetti, fettuccine, etc.  No option for just sheets for lasagna, ravioli, or gnocchi.

This roller will do sheets and cut pasta, but nothing other than plain-cut shapes... and I have to make the dough, which is one of the things I'm trying to avoid.

BoxheadTim said:

Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:

Datsun310Guy said:

In reply to NOHOME :

Have you seen Lydia's cooking show? I'm an old guy - I'll take the one who can really cook........LOL  

I used to watch her a ton.  Tutti a tavola a mangiare.  She has a restaurant in Pittsburgh that is fantastic. 

OT but do you happen to remember what it's called? I could do with some good Italian cooking.

It was called Lidia's on Penn Ave in the strip, but it appears it's no longer there.  Restaurants - Lidia (lidiasitaly.com)

The electric one will take as much room as a mixer, so if it's a possibility, I'd find a used mixer on marketplace for $100 and go that way. That also gives you the option of making the dough even though you don't want to :). 

BoxheadTim said:

Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:

Datsun310Guy said:

In reply to NOHOME :

Have you seen Lydia's cooking show? I'm an old guy - I'll take the one who can really cook........LOL  

I used to watch her a ton.  Tutti a tavola a mangiare.  She has a restaurant in Pittsburgh that is fantastic. 

OT but do you happen to remember what it's called? I could do with some good Italian cooking.

Ok, so it's a ride from your place, and there isn't a lot to do in the area other than drive around, but Olives and Peppers in Greensburg is an amazing traditional Italian restaurant 

About an hour and a half from Cabelas, wv

late edit: Muriales in Fairmont, WV is pretty great too

In reply to Steve_Jones :

I agree, but it would be a large mixer on a tiny countertop.  This needs to fit in a wall cabinet when not in use.  Mom offered me her old Oster mixer with a bunch of attachments but I turned it down for that reason.

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Makes sense. In that case I'd want the electric one you posted where you dump the stuff in and pasta comes out. It does show a lasagna tip if you dig deeper.

Edit. I just ordered it, it'll be here tomorrow. I'll let you know how easy it is after dinner tomorrow. 

In reply to Steve_Jones :

I berkeleying love you

Before buying any of the electric models give a watch to Alex the French Guy on youtube.  He went deep down the rabbithole of pasta making.  He's kind of a Alton Brown type who gets into the science and technology of cooking.   He has a few different series on pasta making and makers this link should take you to the start of one of the playlists on the subject.

I Imported a HEAVY-DUTY Pasta Machine From China... - YouTube

Short version is he found most of the countertop machines didnt work very well, if its not using bronze dies its going to be heartache.

I just use one of the kitchenaid ones mentioned above.  Wont do shapes but great for sheets and strips.

In reply to JThw8 :

Yeah, I'm seeing that most of them will do one or the other.  I suppose I could do lasagna strips if I want to do ravioli or tortellini with the extruder machines.  I just like the idea of "put things in, pasta comes out."

For ravioli, make your pasta sheets and then

https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/kitchen/kitchen-tools/pasta-making/114404-ravioli-mold?item=EV317&utm_source=free_google_shopping&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=shopping_feed&utm_campaign=CAN-EN%7CPLA%7CPMax%7CKitchen%7CHighPriceTier&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7vjI14H-gAMViBqtBh0Z5gcTEAQYAiABEgJ_rvD_BwE