Best pasta makers, machines and gadgets for 2023

Best heritage pasta machine

Pros:

• Brand with a legacy of pasta excellence

Cons:

• Needs dusting with flour to prevent pasta from sticking and a work-surface overhang

The Imperia pasta machine is another classic player in pasta making, also made in Italy. It’s simple to set up, with an intuitive design and the standard six settings for rolling your pasta thinner and thinner.

We liked the wooden handle, which was smooth to wind and although the mechanism was a little stiff when changing the roller settings, it would loosen with use. Another weighty machine, there was zero movement thanks also to the addition of its clamp.

With a dusting of flour we found the dough smooth and easy to roll through – we don’t recommend using without. Again, we were left with top-quality fresh lasagne sheets, tagliatelle and tagliolini.

Lakeland pasta machine chromed steel

Best budget pasta machine

Pros:

• Three fully-integrated rollers

Cons:

• Moves while rolling
• Handle falls out

Lifting the Lakeland pasta machine from its sturdy little box, we were impressed by its gently curving shape and more contemporary style. There are three integrated rollers for cutting spaghetti, linguini and tagliatelle, which makes the machine a little heavy.

Assembly was straightforward. The clamp needs a worktop overhang or can be fixed onto a table. We tried both, and unfortunately, the machine did not sit securely on either despite its four rubber feet.

For those not used to making pasta, there’s an instruction leaflet on how to make the dough and to smooth it using the eight-setting dial, which is easy to see and change. Plus, valuable tips on what to do if the dough sticks and why.

Our pasta recipe creates a semi-soft, silky dough and only needs a light dusting of flour; at no time did we encounter any sticking. However, the machine slipped while using the smoothing roller and the handle kept falling out every time we stopped.

Still, the cutting rollers were super-easy to use, with neat, clean edges and even thickness for each of the pasta types.

Available from:
Lakeland £29.99

ProCook pasta maker

Best fully integrated machine

Pros:

• Rock solid on the worktop
• Smooth rolling action

Cons:

ProCook’s pasta maker looks like a classic pasta machine, all shiny chrome heavy-gauge steel, squarely built and unfussy. It has two separate rollers for tagliatelle and linguine, a chunky clamp and handle, and a self-explanatory instruction sheet.

The machine sits on either a worktop hangover or tables and, once clamped, would not budge even as we pushed the thick dough through the smoothing roller to start. The handle slotted in firmly with a resounding click, moved freely and stayed put until needed. The roller dial also moved briskly into place as we worked our way through each of the nine thicknesses, though we did find that at setting 9, the pasta became quite delicate.

The independent rollers slot easily onto the machine for cutting, and again because the machine is so firmly clamped, this process was also super easy.

We only had one concern with this super, well-designed machine: a very sharp edge at the back of the machine, which could easily cut fingers if unaware. Otherwise, for its price, the quality and performance of this machine are excellent.

Available from:
ProCook (£35)

VonShef 6-piece pasta maker and attachment set

Best for variety of attachments included

Pros:

• Produces six types of pasta

Cons:

• Clunky rolling action
• Poor cutting ravioli attachment

We were excited unwrapping the VonShef pasta machine. In the box, we found a traditional-style machine with nine roller settings; two separate cutting rollers, each with two styles of cut; a hand-held roller for cutting lasagne; an attachment for cutting ravioli; and a handy spaghetti portion measure.

The clamp fastened the machine to the worktop overhang securely – you can also use a table – and the handle slipped snugly into its slot. The initial rolling on setting 1 was hard; the rollers struggled to move and grated noisily. We applied a little olive oil to help them on their way, which smoothed them a little, but it still struggled until further into the settings.

Attaching and removing the separate rollers onto the machine was also tricky, but once on, the cutting action was smooth and precise – the spaghetti was the best on the test. The ravioli cutter was the least helpful attachment: it took several attempts to produce a decent cut, and even then, the pasta tore frequently.

Apart from this, the machine and most of the attachments in the set are useful if you want to make a variety of homemade pasta at a bargain price.

Available from:
Wayfair (£39.99)
VonShef (£39.99)
Amazon (£39.99)

Marcato ravioli tablet

Best ravioli making gadget

Pros:

• Makes 12 ravioli at once
• Comes with its own rolling pin

Cons:

We loved the concept of this Marcato-made ravioli tablet, made from anodised aluminium and its large stamp lid that guarantees small but perfectly formed ravioli every time.

Dust the under-tray with flour and gently press your pasta into the holes, filling each as you go before layering another pasta sheet on top. Then press down with the stamp, aligning its corners using its handles.

We loved the bespoke-sized aluminium rolling pin that has easy-grip silicone handles and which ensures that you apply even pressure across the surface of the tray.

Wondering how to make your own ravioli? Check out our homemade ravioli recipe – the filling can be made with spinach or foraged ingredients.

Lakeland collapsible pasta drying rack

Best pasta drying rack

Pros:

• Collapsible for easy storage

Cons:

• 36cm in footprint so takes up a lot of space on your counter when in use

Having a pasta drying rack gives you flexibility about how much fresh stuff you can make in one go. Fresh pasta freezes nicely, so drying it first allows you to make batches, roll and cut.

When built, Lakeland’s pasta drying rack was sturdy and well-balanced. It can hold a square metre of pasta in one go and dismantles to just 2cm thickness, about the same as a wooden chopping board so can be slid into slim spaces for storage.

Available from:
Lakeland (£18.99)
Amazon (£18.99)

KitchenAid 3-piece pasta roller and cutter set

Best pasta maker attachments

Pros:

• Hands-free rolling and cutting, efficient and professional pasta finish

Cons:

These attachments went down a storm in the BBC Good Food kitchen and are really fun to use if you already have a KitchenAid mixer on your counter.

With the standard connection, it’s simple to attach each gadget for rolling and slicing your pre-made pasta dough.

These work best on a slow speed of 1 or 2, feeding the dough through automatically, leaving you with both hands to control the pasta. Leaving you with beautifully sleek pasta strands, you’ll almost be disappointed when you run out of dough to roll.

Although there’s a hefty price tag, these attachments make pasta-making really easy, saving you from having to buy an additional machine and giving your KitchenAid even more life.

How to clean your pasta maker

First rule – don’t pop anything in the dishwasher! Most pasta machines come with their very own bristled brushes for dusting off bits of flour or stray pasta dough. Wet pasta dough becomes a paste with the sticking power of cement, so try and keep all parts of the machine dry as best you can. A warm damp cloth should wipe away any particularly stubborn bits. Leave the machine to dry fully before using again.

How to make fresh pasta

Wondering how to make pasta from scratch? First, arm yourself with the right fresh pasta recipe. Our easy pasta dough can be used to make any style or shape of pasta. You’ll need only three ingredients – traditional ’00’ flour, egg and semolina. Whizz them in a food processor, then knead into a smooth dough. Follow our recipe to discover how to roll and shape it. For more on how to make pasta dough, watch our video guide.

Pasta guides

Is pasta healthy?
How to cook pasta

Pasta recipes

Homemade ravioli recipe
Fresh pasta recipe
Ultimate spaghetti carbonara recipe
Tagliatelle with fresh peas & bacon
Fresh pesto
Super-veg pasta
Lasagne with pesto

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This review was last updated in February 2023. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.

What pasta maker would you recommend? Leave a comment below…