| You may wonder why you need to make fresh pasta | | | | master but you will be limited to what types of pasta |
| when you can buy many types of dried pastas, in a | | | | shapes you can make. The most basic machines |
| variety of flavors, in most grocery stores today. Store | | | | come with a cutting attachment for linguine and |
| bought pasta is one of the most convenient foods | | | | spaghetti. If you move up to a slightly more expensive |
| around, and the dried pasta can be stored in your | | | | machine, there are usually additional cutting |
| pantry for a very long time, but fresh pasta has a | | | | attachments you can use a few more varieties. Think |
| delicate flavor and texture that makes it worth the | | | | about what types of pastas you usually make and |
| extra effort. | | | | how much variety you will want from your machine. |
| With so many fresh pastas available today, why | | | | Making homemade pasta with an electric pasta |
| should you make your own? | | | | machine can be easy because these machines include |
| The main reason I like making homemade pasta is | | | | a greater variety of attachments and will save you the |
| because I can control the ingredients and flavors. Store | | | | work of rolling the dough through the machine, |
| bought fresh pasta contains preservatives and | | | | however, many consider the texture to be inferior to |
| chemicals that can easily be avoided when you make | | | | the old fashioned crank machines. They are also a little |
| your own pasta. You are also limited only by your | | | | more expensive but you will easily recoup the |
| imagination when choosing the flavors of your own | | | | investment on any pasta machine since buying fresh |
| pasta. Homemade ravioli is best because you can fill it | | | | pasta is quite expensive. |
| with anything you want, and you can avoid the high fat | | | | Another consideration when purchasing a pasta |
| meats common in many commercially prepared ravioli. | | | | machine is to look for a sturdy model made of |
| Homemade pasta is not difficult at all to make once | | | | stainless steel and is easy to clean. A clean machine is |
| you learn how to make the dough and how to cut | | | | important to prevent the pasta from sticking when |
| your fresh pasta into your desired shape. It is even | | | | rolling and cutting through the machine. |
| possible to make chocolate pasta! | | | | Prices range from about $20 for a basic, hand crank |
| Do you need a Pasta Machine? | | | | machine to over $100 for an expensive unit with |
| It is quite possible to make homemade pasta dough | | | | electric motors which provide more ways to roll and |
| and simply cut it with a knife on a cutting board, | | | | slice, and ease-of-use features. Top of the line models, |
| however, a pasta machine will take the work out of | | | | which are often not much more money, incorporate |
| some of the kneading and will give your dough a good | | | | bowls, stirring rods, kneaders and other features to |
| consistency and uniform thickness. Once you have | | | | allow making the dough as well. That puts the whole |
| made your pasta dough, it needs to be rolled out and | | | | operation together in one unit. Not bad! |
| cut to your desired shape. With the variety of pasta | | | | Whether you choose to use a pasta machine or just |
| shapes and styles, that task is a bit more demanding | | | | make some dough and roll it out by hand, it will be |
| than it sounds and a good pasta maker can make the | | | | worth your time and effort to try making homemade |
| whole task a lot easier and more fun. | | | | pasta fresh in your kitchen. You can add many |
| Which Pasta Machine is Best? | | | | ingredients and tailor the pasta dough to any specific |
| When shopping for a pasta machine there are a few | | | | diet you may have. There are many homemade pasta |
| things you should consider. A basic hand crank | | | | recipes you can try so let your imagination guide you |
| machine is not very expensive and has been good | | | | and have fun making pasta! |
| enough for centuries. These are fun and not difficult to | | | | |