Available in both chrome plated stainless steel, or bright glossy red finish, this is a wonderful addition to any pasta loving kitchen.

This is a traditional Italian design, with hand-crank mechanism to allow you to control the creation of your pasta completely.

The 9 settings allow for a gradual thinning of your home-made pasta dough which ensures an even and smooth finish.

Atlas Pasta Maker Features

So why do we love this particular pasta machine so much?

• Nickel plated rollers to prevent corrosion.
• 9 thickness settings.
• Heavy steel body for strength, durability and cleanliness.
• Chrome coating for easy cleaning (or high gloss red coating for the fashionable kitchen).
• Tons of extras are widely available, including motor and many cutting attachments.
• Comes with cutters to create fettuccine, spaghetti and tagliolini.
• Gears made from case tempered hardened steel to last.
• The customer reviews.
• The fact that this is a favorite in Italy, where they really should know how to roll their pasta!

Marcato Wellness Atlas Machine Reviews

The reviews are very impressive for this Italian pasta machine.  At the time of writing over 80 customers had already given their feedback (you can view the reviews via the link above), voting this particular kitchen gadget an impressive 4.5 out of 5 stars.

The key points mentioned are:

• Easy to use.
• Strong.
• Simple, practical and long lasting.
• Easy to assemble.
• Heavy and well made.

That’s just about all you need really.  With a great pasta machine, strength and build quality are paramount.  This is a simple design that has been going strong for many years, and should do the same in your kitchen too.  We have loved the Atlas Pasta Machine since we first slapped eyes on it, and the more cheaper imitations we see the more keep coming back to it, as our favorite hand cranked pasta maker for home use.

In no particular order…

1. Imperia Pasta Machine
2. Atlas Pasta Machine
3. KitchenAid Pasta Attachments

If you are interested in reading customer reviews, or purchasing any of these machines, just click the links above to view our product details pages.

Now I know the KitchenAid isn’t technically a pasta machine, but if you are lucky enough to have a KitchenAid Stand Mixer already, you simply don’t need a pasta maker, the attachments will do everything you need perfectly and mean you have one less kitchen gadget to find a home for!

So why are we recommending these 3 machines when there are so many to choose from?

• Build quality.  These are all solid steel constructions that will simply go on and on for many years.  I know we often suggest cheap machines are okay, and in truth they are.  But, a good quality Italian $60 machine is likely to last a life-time, and is far better value for money than a more flimsy $30 version.  If you plan on making pasta regularly, a sturdy machine, that spare parts can be purchased for is essential.
• These are all no-nonsense pasta makers.  They are not gimmicky, so attention is kept on the important thing, ensuring pasta is easy to make.  And, with all 3 it really is.  Yes you can buy additional cutters for different pasta shapes for all 3, but they don’t focus on that.  The primary product is a high quality roller and a simple cutter, and frankly that is all you really need!
• Customer reviews. All three pasta makers mentioned have a great series of customer reviews so you can rest assured you are getting a high quality product, from a company that knows how to deal with its customers.
• Easy to clean.  This is important.  All manual machines should be relatively easy to clean providing you use them correctly, however some of the automatic ones can be a little tricky.  Yet another reason why personally I prefer manual hand-cranked Italian style pasta makers.  The only automation I will consider is the KitchenAidattachments because they are easy to control and use (as well as being a doddle to clean).
• Value for Money.  All 3 offer exceptional value for money because they will last so long.  KitchenAid offer a no worries replacement guarantee on everything so even if something did happen you are fine.  And, the other two are such simple, traditional designs that there is very little that could possibly go wrong with them in the first place!

So which pasta machine is our favorite?  Well, if you have a stand mixer it makes sense to order the pasta making attachments to go with it.  However, I would not chose the stand mixer if you don’t have it already.  Instead choose the Imperia pasta machine as it offers excellent value for money as is extremely easy to use.

Pasta is one of the foods that people all over the world have enjoyed, are enjoying, and will continue to be enjoyed for the many years to come. The history of this Italian delicacy is as tangled as spaghetti noodles. However, we will try to discuss this with the aim to arrive at sure answers to the questions: How did pasta come about and where did it come from?

Pasta History

According to mythology, there was a Roman God named Vulcan. The said God was able to invent machinery that is capable of cutting dough into thin strips.  However, a little bit of confusion stirred among this reference as there is no evidence with Ovid’s written works that the God indeed was able to make such machine.  But, there is a sort of validity that the Romans together with the Greeks were able to discover a certain dough which is flattened.  This dough though may seem to be associated more with another Italian specialty, pizza, because they roast it over hot stones or something like ovens instead of boiling it like what we usually do with pasta noodles.  Another support to the claim was added by Apicius, a Roman writer, who described a certain kind of food or pasta for that matter that was made “to enclose timballi and pies”. Such kind of food was called “lagana” and with the description, we can associate it with the modern lasagna.

The origin of pasta was also linked to the early Arab civilization. In the Jewish Talmud, there was a record of boiling noodles. The said record was written in Aramaic in the 5th century A.D. With such an early date, historians think that this is the first record and sure proof that pasta existed even in the earliest years and civilizations. The term for noodles in the record was “itriyah”. When translated to Arabic, the term would essentially mean dried noodles purchased from a vendor. This translation led to the speculation of historians that pasta noodles at that time were not homemade and fresh but were portable instead. It was also thought that pasta was acquired by the Arabs when they were able to conquer Sicily. Furthermore, there was a geographer, also an Arab, who wrote that “flour-based product in the shape of strings was produced in Palermo, then in the Arab dominion.” Going back to Sicily, historians think that the Sicilian word “maccaruni” is the origin of the pasta variety macaroni.

One of the greatest theories about the history of pasta was the well-known return of Marco Polo from his travels in Asia particularly in China. The Chinese civilization has been eating a certain kind of noodles made from millet since 2000 B.C. and proof was discovered by archaeologists when they found preserved noodles over 4000 years of age. But the tale was disregarded as pasta is made from durum wheat and not from millet. Another thing that caused historians to disregard this theory was the year of Marco Polo’s arrival. He was dated to have come back to Italy in 1295 but, there was a Genoese soldier which had a list of inventory in his basket and included dried pasta in the year 1279, hardly 16 years earlier than the return of the famous Marco Polo. The conflict of dates may be there but we can be certain that indeed Marco Polo encountered Chinese noodles and may have introduced them in Italy, but it could not have been the kind of pasta that we all know. On the other hand, dried pasta, like that of the Genoese soldier’s account, became more famous around the 14th and 15th centuries. Records from 15th century Italian and Dominican monasteries revealed this. By the 17th century, pasta, particularly dried pasta became a lot more famous.

With this long list of myths and tales regarding the history of pasta, we can only be certain of one thing. Italy has the perfect kind of soil to grow durum wheat which is the primary ingredient in making authentic pasta noodles. With that, we can probably conclude that pasta primarily originated in Italy with the influences of various early civilizations and countries.

Basic Pasta Noodle Making

Everybody loves a good pasta recipe but we should know first how to make homemade pasta. In Italy, pasta makers are divided when it comes to pasta noodles. While the Northern inhabitants are fond of using freshly-made pasta noodles, the Southerners prefer dried pasta noodles made from durum wheat. If you want to make a dried pasta noodle, make sure you have the right set of ingredients. You will need eggs, flour, durum wheat, and water. However, if you want to make fresh pasta noodles, you would not need the durum wheat anymore. You will just have to add milk.

In trying to create the dough, you have to watchfully mix it. But first, you have to begin by making a volcano-like shape with the flour. Make sure you create a hole in the center where you can pour the eggs and milk. Using one hand, ideally your strong hand; try mixing the dough. On the other hand, use your remaining hand in trying to keep the eggs in the right place as they will have the tendency to spread and run through. If you do not like the hassle of doing so, you may just do the mixing in a bowl large enough to accommodate your ingredients. There are times that you have to add more flour when it becomes a little too moist, while you have to add water when it becomes crumbly. When you arrive at the right consistency, not too dry and not too moist, you may start kneading. Use both hands this time in rolling, twisting, and folding your dough. Take at least 10 to 15 minutes in doing this. After it gets a little elastic, you may shawl your fresh pasta dough with a plastic wrap.

Just about 30 minutes after covering it, you can already start rolling your pasta dough. You may use the traditional rolling pin but that would take you a lot of time. Italian pasta makers make use of pasta machines with two stainless rollers that allow the dough to become ideally thin. If you are done in this process, hang your pasta dough and let it semi-dry. If you would not do this, the dough may not separate right away when cut.

After the drying process, you may then cut your pasta with the use of a pasta maker. Pasta makers are included with cutters so you won’t have a problem with even cutting. But, if you’d like, you may also cut manually with a knife.  After which, dry again your pasta noodles for optimum shelf-life. Speaking of shelf-life, you can keep your homemade pasta noodles for up to one month. Just be sure that you store it when it is perfectly dry already. Just put in an uncovered bowl and place it in a cabinet that is dry.

Colored Pasta

Making fresh pasta noodles is made even more fun and artistic when they are in color.  To make green pasta noodles, add finely cut spinach. Black pasta can also be made with the aid of squid ink. This is particularly common to Japanese chefs. On the other hand, if you would like to paint your pasta noodles red, you may do so by using colored water from which beetroots are cooked. Lastly, make sunshiny yellow pasta by putting saffron or kurkuma into your dough mix. There are some other ways to achieve this colours, it’s just a matter of imagination and creativity. You can even make chocolate-coloured pasta noodles with the use of chocolate of course!

Pasta Varieties

Literally, there are over hundreds of pasta varieties. We can easily categorize them by their sizes and distinctions.

Long pasta

This type of pasta noodle is characterized by a cylindrical shape in general which makes it easy to be manipulated by fork when being eaten. The thickness varies though from the thinnest angel hair to the thick and hollow bucatini. Common types are:

• Spaghetti- one of the oldest known pasta shapes which are long and thin in strands.
• Spaghettoni- a larger version of spaghetti. A smaller one also exists known as spaghettini.
• Vermicelli- when translated to English, this means little worms.
• Perciatelli- a thick and hollow long strand of pasta.
• Fusilli Bucati- a long and curled type of pasta. When cooked, this is particularly bouncy; perfect for kids.

Short pasta

Contrary to the first variety, short pasta is basically characterized by small sizes of noodles whether cut in tubes, shaped in shells, or stuffed. Examples are:

Tube Pasta

• Gomito- bent pasta tubes commonly known as elbow macaroni.
• Garganelli- pasta much like the penne type but is rougher-looking.
• Gemelli- basically this is an S-shaped pasta consisting twisted strands of pasta noodles.
• Manicotti- large and tube-shaped noodles which can be stuffed.
• Penne-one of the most popular pasta shapes, this refers to tubes of pasta that are cut diagonally.
• Rigatoni- this is also a popular shape characterized by tubes of ridged pasta noodles.
• Trenne- this refers to a triangular version of the penne cut.
• Tortiglioni- a tube cut pasta more commonly used in baked pasta dishes.
• Ziti- this is a medium sized pasta shape which has a hose-like characteristic and is commonly served in traditional Italian weddings.

Shaped Pasta

• Campanelle- this is a bell-shaped pasta which has a frilly edge on one end and considered as one of the most creatively shaped pasta noodles.
• Cavatelli- short and solid pasta noodle which is often described by a lot of pasta patrons as “hot dog buns”.
• Farfalle- another popular pasta shape commonly referred to as bow ties. Sometimes, patrons refer to this as butterfly pasta.
• Fiori- a pasta in shape of a flower.
• Lanterne- a pasta featuring a curve shape and curved ridges.
• Maltagliati- this pasta literally means badly cut. Characterized by roughly chopped pasta, they do not conform to a particular shape.
• Orecchiette- translates to “small ears”, this type is often used when the sauce has a heavy and rich consistency.
• Radiatori- simply translates to “radiators”, this pasta features an unstuffed square shape with ridges pointing outward.
• Rotelle- pasta taking the shape of wagon wheels.
• Rotini- a type of pasta which is 2-edged and spiral in shape.

Stuffed Pasta

• Agnolotti- features a semi-circular pocket thus, can be stuffed with ricotta and other cheeses mixed with select meat.
• Fagottini- a type of pasta which is made from a round of dough gathered into bundles. This can be stuffed with cheeses like ricotta or fruits like fresh cut pears.
• Pelmeni- a pasta of Tartar origin consisting of a filling wrapped in thin dough.
• Ravioli- another famous pasta cut, this is considered as the favourite stuffed pasta of many. Some stuff it with different cheeses, meat, or a mixture of the two.
• Tortellini- a stuffed pasta in ring shape often filled with cheese.
• Spatzle- an irregularly shaped pasta which, is German in origin.
• Gnocchi- another irregularly shaped pasta that is round and often created with potatoes.

Minute Pasta

• Acini de Pepe- a bead-like pasta.
• Alfabeto- a type of pasta perfect for the kids. Shaped in alphabets, they will surely have fun munching on this.
• Farfalline- bow tie in shape that is minute in size.
• Stortini- smaller version of elbow macaroni.
• Tarhana- granular and irregular in shape. This pasta is Turkish in origin.

These are just some of the popular pasta varieties. As you may know, you can choose from over 350 different pasta noodles in various length, sizes, and stuffing. Talk about diversity!

Pasta Sauces and Common Recipes

Since we know now the different pasta noodles, we shall move on towards cooking the perfect pasta sauce. Again, everything starts with the proper amount of ingredients.

Tomato Pasta Sauce

Basic pasta sauces can make use of tomato sauce. The use of tomato in pasta can be traced back in the 14th century particularly 1519 when a Spanish native by the name of Cortez brought tomatoes to Europe from his voyage in Mexico.           Nobody knew how pasta met tomato but eventually, the two did and pasta became changed forever. In 1839, the Duke of Buonvicino, Ippolito Cavalcanti, offered a recipe for “’vermicelli co le pommodoro” and after that, a lot of fabulous dishes have been created with tomatoes.

At first though, pasta was eaten dry and without sauce. Because of this, people were using their hands in eating it but when the birth of tomatoes and tomato sauce arrived, people started digging into their pasta with fork. With this, we must say that tomatoes brought table manners more than flavor for pasta lovers!  Nowadays, cooking pasta with tomato sauce is made easy with canned sauces already made available for purchase. However, for some pasta lovers they prefer making their sauces from scratch. Making tomato sauce from scratch can be a tedious task but it will surely be worth all the effort once you taste it with your favourite pasta noodles. All you need are the freshest tomatoes, spices, various cheeses, and sometimes red wine.

Creamy Pasta Sauce

Aside from tomato sauce, another basic pasta sauce is carbonara. It is characterized by a creamy sauce, without tomatoes. The sauce is otherwise made from cream, milk, bacon, ham and parmesan. The history of how carbonara pasta started is quite an anecdote. It is said to begin during the World War II when US troops were stationed in Italy. They had the usual ration of bacon, eggs, ham, and some milk. The troops used these as for barter and what the Italians did was they were able to invent a sauce made from cream and milk added with ham and eggs. The sauce was added with pasta and voila, there came carbonara!  The dish became very popular in Italy as a variation to the traditional pasta with tomato sauce came about. The US troops also loved it while they were stationed there and as soon as they got back to the States, they shared the recipe and became well-known there. That’s how we know now the famous carbonara.

Pesto Pasta Sauce

Alternatively, there is another pasta sauce that everybody seems to love.  That sauce is pesto! Pesto originated in Genoa, a region in the northern part of Italy. The English translation of the sauce refers to pounding or crushing. Long before, the ingredients of the sauce were pounded using a mortar and pestle but now in the modern times, the ingredients are grounded. The history of the sauce began when the ancient Romans ate a form of cheese spread with basil known as moretum. The Genoans adapted this and added garlic, pine nuts, and olive oil to it and called it pesto. After some time, the sauce was incorporated with pasta and became a hit.

Just like the different pasta varieties, there are also over hundreds of varieties when it comes to pasta sauces. You can start with the basic tomato sauce and little by little you can slowly experiment with whatever ingredients you would like to have in your pasta. Some variations include adding a little bit of condensed milk with lots of bell peppers to add sweetness to the traditional tangy Italian tomato pasta. Others make sauces with a lot of garlic to add an Asian touch to a pasta dish. On the other hand, many have experimented with the kind of meat they put in the sauce.   Duck, chicken and beef are popular additions, and some interesting seafood pasta recipes can make a tasty treat too.

With the use of your imagination, who knows, you might just cause the birth of a new pasta sauce which will become another favourite by the billions of pasta lovers worldwide! Have fun with your pasta dishes; don’t stick to what’s usual—explore!

A cheap pasta maker machine need not be an inferior one.  The Roma Pasta Maker is cheap for the price but built to last.  As we have seen with the Pinzon Pasta Maker and Villaware Pasta Machine it is perfectly possible to buy a decent product for under $30 that will keep your family fed and enjoying authentic Italian meals for years to come.

The reason that even a budget pasta machine can be a good buy is that their design is simple and traditional.  After centuries of making great pasta the Italian’s have come up with a straightforward design that has little that could ever go wrong.  Yes, you can pay more and get an automatic pasta maker for example, but why bother when a simple hand-cranked model will keep on turning out great fresh pasta with little or no maintenance in your kitchen?  That being said some of the other traditional models are likely to be more robust and made of sturdier metal.

But, if you plan on making occasional home-made pasta a budget model such as this one will serve you well.  The 6″ rollers will cope with home-cooking volumes of pasta.  Eight settings allow you to gradually reduce the thickness of the dough, to get fine smooth pasta.  A useful C-clamp will let you set the pasta maker somewhere solid and prevent any movement – but you will need to consider where you can place it!

There are a range of additional cutters available to help you produce Angel Hair, Spaghetti, Linguini, Lasagna, Lasagnette, Fettuccini and Half Moon & Square Raviolis.  But to be honest I wouldn’t worry too much about that to begin with.  Get your sheets sorted out and you can cut all manner of shapes by hand.  Once you are using the machine more regularly and have got your dough making sorted out, then its time for fancy shapes!

The Roma 6 inch pasta machine is one of those no-nonsense manual kitchen gadgets.  The key to success is getting your dough right.  To stiff and you will struggle to get it through the rollers.  Too sticky and you will simply end up in a horrible mess!  Practice makes perfect and you will quickly learn what great home-made pasta dough “feels” like.

Is the Roma 6 the Best Pasta Maker Machine?  Honestly, no, my personal recommendation would be the Atlas Pasta Machine or Imperia Pasta Maker..  But, is it one of the best budget models?  Definitely – you can tell from the customer reviews (click the image above for all reviews from past customers).

Now, obviously here at the Pasta Maker site we’re pretty enthusiastic about good, old-fashioned pasta maker machines.  The sort that roll out traditional fresh pasta dough easily and finely.  What we tend not to be so enthused about are those ‘promise everything, delivery very little’ automatic pasta makers.  The reason is that to get to grips with a pasta extruder really does take a while.  Yes, in theory they’re great, but for many (myself included) they are nothing but messy contraptions that are impossible to clean!

So, what am I doing talking about KitchenAid Pasta Attachments then?  Well, there are several different attachments produced by KitchenAid that will help you convert your stand mixer into a pasta machine.  And some are far better than others.

First of all there is a whole kit that mixes, extrudes and rolls your pasta.  Personally we would avoid these like the plague.  You’ve got a mixer, so use that to mix, but don’t get too bogged down with asking machinery to do everything.  The thing is unless you fork out for either a course in pasta making, or to buy pasta manufacturing equipment you are likely to be sadly dissapointed if you expect a small household appliance to cope with turning your possibly imperfectly prepared dough into something spectacular.

Oh yes in theory you can produce all sorts of exciting pasta sheets such as macaroni tubes.  But in practice it is terribly difficult to get to grips with.  Personally we think it is far better to learn to make fabulous textured, fabulous tasting fresh pasta even if the shape it is served in is not so ‘exciting’.  Think traditional and you’ll be making great fresh pasta!

Now, that’s one gadget dismissed but what about the picture at the top?  Those are pasta rollers, just like you find on any common Italian Pasta Maker but with the advantage that they fit snugly onto your KitchenAid stand mixer.  Really there is nothing that could go wrong with these simple bits of shiny kitchen equipment and that is why we just love them.  The three attachments included in the great KitchenAid Pasta set are of course, a pasta roller, plus a fettuccine cutter, and a linguine fini cutter.  That’s all you need to produce a wealth of great pasta shapes without all the fuss of extruding it in anything too convoluted.

If you still have a burning desire for a new electronic kitchen gadget, forget automatic pasta makers that do struggle to offer the best results.  Try instead a Zojirushi rice cooker as these really are fool-proof in producing fantastic results for the home cook.

Sometimes simple is best and that’s what you get if you buy the right KitchenAid Pasta Maker Attachments.

If you want to buy one Pasta Maker Machine that includes just about everything you could need to get creative in the kitchen and make all sorts of great homemade Italian Pasta, theCucina Pro 178 Fresh Pasta Set is certainly worth a look.

It’s true you don’t need too much when you first start making your own fresh pasta.  But a few extra cutters and attachments can really motivate you into trying new ideas and new recipes.  This is an inexpensive piece of kitchen equipment.  But when you are starting out it seems a waste to buy anything too expensive.  With this kind of budget pasta maker you can get to grips with the techniques involved in producing great quality fresh pasta without having to invest too much to begin with.

For the occasional or new pasta cook a budget machine is more than adequate.  The fact is the basic mechanism for them all is pretty standard.  You are looking for, after all, a glorified rolling pin!  There may be heavier machines and better looking ones around.  But to roll simple pasta dough all you need is the rolling mechanism itself and they are all pretty similar.  So long as you look after the machine, keep it dry and create dough that is not too dry, you should have no problems with this particular model.

We have to be honest here, there are perhaps, better machines around.  But you pay for them!  And, if you are a beginner or merely an occasional fresh pasta creator this budget pasta machine will certainly keep you going.  However, if you do not need the inspiration of so many cutting attachments we would recommend instead teh CucinaPro 159 Imperia Pasta Machine, for just a touch more solidity.

Made from chrome plated steel it is pretty solid and since there is actually very little that complicated in the design, very little can go wrong with such a product.   The rollers and cutters are stainless steel so once cleaned these will keep good for a long time to come and prove a sanitary design for the parts actually in contact with food.  On the whole the customer reviews confirm that this is low priced but built to last, and with a little care and attention will help you produce great pasta.

The fact that the CucinaPro 178 Pasta Maker has seven thickness settings for the pasta to be rolled out to is great.  Gradually winding your pasta dough through to become thinner and thinner is the key to success and this particular machine makes that bit as easy as it can be!  The cutter attachments mean you can easily create spaghetti, fettuccini, angel hair, ravioli and lasagnette.

Because it comes with such obvious necessities like a ravioli cuter, the CucinaPro 178 does make an exceedingly economical choice for a new pasta maker machine.  A good gift idea for someone that is toying with the idea of creating fresh pasta but has yet to have a go!

The Pinzon Pasta Maker Machine is a good all round Budget Pasta Maker. It is a great starter machine for those new to the art of homemade pasta creation, or those that need their machine only rarely. As it has a capacity for only 5.1″ wide pasta sheets it is much more easy to handle than some of the bulkier machines.

It is constructed of stainless steel which is of course very well lasting, and simply clamps easily to the counter top for stability. As this is a low priced pasta maker it does not come with a wealth of cutters. But since many of those end up rarely used I would not worry too much. After all fine spaghetti and medium thick fettuccine are taken care of. And of course you can easily cut by hand those smooth sheets into ravioli, lasagna, stacci and much more yourself.

For anyone new to pasta making it makes little sense to spend a fortune till you know whether it is a skill you enjoy or not. That being said there are some simply terrible cheap machines out there that will do nothing more than put you off homemade pasta for life. The Pinzon is not one of them! This little machine does have its faults. If you need cutters and larger dough sheets this is not the model for you. But with a little care over your dough and correct maintenance there is no reason why the Pinzon Budget Pasta Maker Machine will not see your family well fed for years to come.

A simple, traditional Italian Pasta Maker design is followed. The construction is stainless steel, and the price is extraordinarily low. What more could you ask for of a Budget Pasta Machine?

One of the best selling pasta maker machines, currently with amazon, the Cucina Pro 150 Imperia is an authentic, Italian pasta maker of high quality but only mid range price. Hand cranked for maximum control of your pasta sheets, it comes with a clamp to keep the pasta machine fixed in place on your counter-top. Made from stainless steel this is a durable product that should stand any amount of homemade pasta creation.

The 6″ wide roller gives the ideal width of lasagna sheet and means this is not too bulky a kitchen gadget. The CucinaPro 150 is supplied with one double cutter attachment that is suitable for cutting out spaghetti and fettuccine. Other cutters are available to add to your repertoire of homemade pasta shapes. We would recommend getting to grips with the basics first though and invest in additional cutters once those are mastered. Of course many shapes such as stacci and tagliatelle can all be created by hand from your simple sheet anyway!

This is a mid range pasta machine, made from stainless steel with a tough wooden handle that gives a comfortable grip when hand cranking your pasta sheets. At the time of writing this post there were already 15 customer reviews of the CucinaPro 150 Imperia, giving an average mark of 4.5 out of a possible 5 stars, which is pretty good going for such a specialist kitchen gadget as the pasta maker machine. With a simple, traditional design and good quality materials there is very little that could ever go wrong with such a pasta maker. Have a look at some of the customer reviews to see what owners of this Italian Pasta Machine think…

If you are looking for a hands-free method of creating authentic fresh Italian pasta maybe the new Popeil Pasta Maker will help. The Popeil Pasta Maker has been around for a while, but now there is a new model from Ronco. One product to help you create tasty homemade pasta but without too much participation on your part. It leaves you more time to get creative with a tasty pasta sauce!

With an automatic pasta making machine you simply load up the ingredients and press ‘mix’, then once the dough is formed press ‘ext’ to extrude the pasta into your preferred shape. You receive all the glory for creating homemade pasta while the machine does all the hard work for you! Automatic Pasta Machines make an interesting gift idea for cooks too.

This model can also be used to make sausages at home, a good way to ensure healthy ingredients in your kids favorite foods.

New Popeil Pasta Maker Specification

The motorised counter-top machine uses a quite electric motor to both mix and extrude your fresh pasta and sausages. Included with the device are ten dies to create different pasta shapes, or indeed to create cookies and biscuits. Pasta cutters included will help you create: angel hair, fettuccine, gnocchi, lasagna, linguine, macaroni, rigatoni, spaghetti, tagliatelle and vermicelli pasta.

A measuring cup, pasta fork and recipe book are also included, with full instructions on how to create the best homemade pasta you can. For those considering creating sausages too, a sausage horn and casing are included too.

Much of the machine is dishwasher safe (everything apart from the motor base), continuing the ‘hands off’ approach to pasta making at home!

The Popeil Pasta Maker makes and interesting and useful addition to any kitchen where pasta (or indeed sausages) are enjoyed. Using a machine to mix and shape pasta dough is not for everyone as many would feel the end result more personal and unique when created by hand. But, with most of what we consume made at least in part mechanically there are many that find the automatic pasta machine a great innovation for the home cook. After all, the key point is knowing what ingredients are used in home-cooked food, and machine or no machine you can ensure only top quality products go into your homemade pasta.

The popular Atlas Italian Pasta Maker Machine is the current best selling pasta machine with amazon.com. Read on to find out more about the benefits of an authentic Italian Pasta Maker.

The Atlas Original is a Pasta Maker produced by Marcato, one of the leading manufacturers of Italian kitchen equipment. Popular for its robust design, multitude of optional attachments and realistic price-tag, this is loved by home-cooks and professionals alike.

Atlas Italian Pasta Machine Specification

This is a modest sized unit most ideally suited to home use as it requires little space on the counter-top. The size is 8 x 8 x 7 inches and it weighs 6.7 pounds.

For the beginner this hand cranked roller is supplied with two extra cutter attachments; for fettuccine and vermicelli.

Once you perfect your pasta making technique you may be interested in the many available optional attachments come in a wide range for the Atlas, including cutters for ravioli, lasagna, spaghetti and more. Plus, if you tire of hand-cranking the machine you could always upgrade and buy an attachable motorised handle.

The Marcato Italian Pasta Machines are all supplied with a three year warranty, but treated well they should easily last a lifetime. Spare parts such as new handles are available so if the worst happens in years to come, fixing your machine should be a simple operation.

The Atlas Pasta Machine is produced from a variety of materials, with a large component of stainless steel to ensure it is simple to clean and long-lasting.

Using the Atlas Pasta Machine

As with all hand-cranked pasta machines the key to longevity is to take good care of them. That does not mean lots of regular maintenance though. The most important thing is never to get them wet. Clean the out after use with a soft brush or wooden rod, wipe clean and occasionally use a little Vaseline to keep the rollers working smoothly. Full instructions for the care of your machine are supplied.

Getting the dough right can take a little practice. You want something smooth and elastic, neither too dry or too wet. All the recipes you find for creating pasta dough are subject to change. That is because depending on the humidity and warmth in your kitchen, plus the specific flour you are using, more or less liquid may be required. It might sound complicated but all you need to remember is to use your instinct and not to be afraid to adjust quantities accordingly. You will know you have got things right when the pasta machine rolls out smooth clean pasta sheets for you.

The most popular Italian Pasta Maker Machine in the United States sells at around $70 providing a strong and durable tool to help any aspiring Italanian Mama.  Atlas produce a variety of different sized and colored models.  Simply click the link above to view the entire range available in the US.