Instruction Manual for Pasta Machine

Easy Italian

If you thought using pasta machines was difficult or beyond your cooking capability, think again. Sure pasta made in pasta machines doesn't come in a plastic wrap or a box and it may take slightly longer than 10 minutes, but once you make - and eat - your own pasta from a manual or electric pasta machine, store-bought pasta may become food from another planet, or at least your past.

Pasta pizzazz

Adding extra ingredients, herbs, or spices to the main ones of flour, water, or the occasional egg will enhance the experience and/or experiment of making and eating pasta.

Decide on a recipe, and then all you need are a few simple directions to operate the pasta machine.

Manual pasta machines (Atlas pasta machine)

1. Make dough by

Hand

Food processor

Mixer

Bread machine

2. Cut into several parts

3. Flatten them

4. Run each flattened part through widest part of machine

5. Fold part in thirds and run through machine again with rollers closer together

6. Continue this process until desired thickness

7. Lay these thin pieces on clean towels without touching, to prevent sticking

8. Let dry 10 minutes, turning them over once or twice. Drying can be the trickiest part, as cutting requires them to be sufficiently dry without being too much or not enough.

9. Run properly dry pasta sheets through machine to be cut into desired shape and size

10. Drop into boiling water. Note: Fresh pasta takes less time to cook than packaged, dry pasta. When it's done, it will float to the top of the water.

Electric pasta machines

The directions for making pasta in electric machines are not much different than the manual pasta machines except that making pasta is even easier.

These electric machines definitely take the place of making pasta by rolling pins.

Electric pasta machines do it all:

1. Mix

2. Knead

3. Cut

The only thing electric pasta machines don't do is drop it in the water and serve it!

Whether with manual or electric pasta machines, making pasta the way Mama used to make it, or the way you wished she had, will become an ancient tradition made modern with pasta machines in your kitchen. Enjoy!

More information on pasta machines