Making fresh pasta at home is way better than store-bought stuff (but most people dont have time for that). A good pasta maker can change this: you can make tasty home-made pasta even on busy week-nights
The market has lots of options – from basic manual machines to fancy electric ones. Theo Randall‚ chef at InterContinental says: “Look for a sturdy machine that can handle force; check the clamp fits well and the dial has a good lock-system“
I tested nine popular pasta makers this fall; here are the top picks:
- Marcato Atlas 150 ($75): Best overall – super-solid build with perfect pasta cuts
- Kitchencraft World ($35): Best value – good results for half the price
- SMART Electric ($199): Best automatic – does everything by itself
- VonShef Manual ($35): Most versatile with lots of attachments
- KitchenAid Set ($189): Perfect for stand-mixer owners
With a manual pasta machine its really important that the machine feels sturdy as it will have to take a lot of force
The testing process was straight-forward: I made same pasta dough for each machine (using eggs flour and water); tried different settings and attachments – then cooked and tasted results. The Marcato Atlas stood out with its chrome-steel body and rough-textured rollers that make pasta hold sauce better
For cleaning these machines you need to be careful: dont use water or soap – just brush off extra flour and bits of dough (except the SMART electric which has dish-washer safe parts)
Budget options like Kitchencraft work fine too; they might feel less smooth but make good pasta. Electric ones save time but take more counter-space; manual ones need more work but are more compact and traditional
The key is picking what fits your needs: if you make pasta often go for higher-end models; if its occasional any basic manual machine will do fine. Just remember – even simple machines can make great pasta if used right