What Are The Best Pasta Making Tools?
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June 25th, 2024
Making pasta at home can be a rewarding experience, allowing you to create fresh, delicious dishes from scratch.
In this guide, we’ll cover the essential tools and ingredients needed to make pasta.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced cook, understanding the basics of pasta making will help you achieve the best results.
From selecting the right ratio of flour and eggs to choosing between a rolling pin and a pasta machine, we’ll provide all the information you need to get started.
Let’s explore the world of homemade pasta and discover how to make it part of your culinary repertoire.
Shop pasta-making tools here or read our guide on how to make pasta
What tools do you need for pasta making?
- Rolling Pin or Pasta Machine to flatten the dough to the desired thickness.
- Dough Scraper to help cut and hand the dough.
- Pasta Cutter or Pastry Wheel to shape the pasta into various forms like fettuccine or tagliatelle (usually a pasta machine can do this for you)
- Mixing Bowl for combining and kneading the ingredients.
- Drying Rack to dry the pasta before cooking.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons to measure the ingredients accurately.
What else do you need to make pasta?
- Flour: The base ingredient for the dough, providing structure.
- Eggs: Add richness and bind the dough together.
- Salt: Enhances flavour.
- Olive Oil: Adds elasticity to the dough, making it easier to work with.
- Water: Adjusts dough consistency.
Classic fresh pasta only uses eggs and flour, nothing else. Salt is added to the water when cooking. Use 1 egg for each 100g of flour — that is also one portion. So for two people, you'd use 2 eggs and 200g of flour.
Do you need a pasta machine?
A pasta machine is a key tool for making homemade pasta efficiently. It is used to roll and cut the dough into various shapes and thicknesses.
The question often arises, "Do I need a pasta machine?" While it is possible to make pasta without one, using a pasta machine simplifies the process significantly.
Manual pasta machines are traditional and allow for precise control over the thickness of the dough. Electric pasta machines offer convenience and speed, making them ideal for frequent pasta makers.
What do chefs cook pasta in?
Chefs cook pasta in large, heavy-bottomed pots. These pots allow for even heat distribution and prevent the pasta from sticking.
The pot should be filled with plenty of water to give the pasta enough room to move freely.
A wide pot is ideal for cooking long pasta like spaghetti or fettuccine.
For shorter pasta shapes, a deep pot works well. Chefs also add a generous amount of salt to the water, as salty as the sea.
This enhances the pasta's flavour and helps it cook evenly. After cooking, a colander is used to drain the pasta.
Some chefs reserve a cup of pasta water to adjust the sauce's consistency.
