Expert Tips For Using a Hand Cranked Pasta Maker For Homemade Pasta

Making pasta by hand is an amazing skill to acquire, but for optimal results you’ll need to invest in a hand-cranked pasta maker.

Manual pasta makers can be more expensive than their electric counterparts, but they give you more control over the final product. Here are a few expert tips for using a hand cranked pasta maker to make the best homemade pasta.

1. Roll the dough thinly

No matter if you use a hand-cranked pasta maker or commercial model, it’s essential to roll the dough thinly. Otherwise, your pasta will come out thick and chewy instead of soft and flaky.

To achieve an even rollout of dough, Italians recommend using a rolling pin, or Mattarello as it’s known. This long device makes it easier to roll out the dough evenly and prevents your pasta from sticking to the counter surface.

Once the dough has been rolled out, trim it into uniform pieces that are approximately as long as your desired pasta shape. This step enhances both taste and texture of the final product.

Before cooking the dough, it’s wise to dry it. Doing so helps absorb sauce and ensures the dough remains cohesive when being cooked.

Roll the dough out on either a clean work surface, such as your countertop; or place it on a wooden board or cutting board. Wood helps retain moisture in the dough which can be especially helpful if making Southern Italian-style dough with just flour and water.

When using a wood board for dough work, be sure to cover it so that it doesn’t dry out too much. Doing this will help avoid your dough drying out and becoming fragile when cutting into desired shapes.

Finally, Chef Joe Sasto recommends that you spritz your pasta dough with some water as you work. This is an effective way to add moisture and improve its consistency.

Your homemade pasta dough can be kneaded right on your kitchen counter, but for better texture control try working it in a board or large bowl. Be sure to cover the dough while you knead it; this helps prevent drying out too much and improves its texture during this step.

2. Don’t overwork the dough

Making homemade pasta with a hand crank pasta maker is an enjoyable and time-consuming task. Although it takes more effort, the results are worth the effort once you get the hang of it – once you master this technique, you won’t want to buy boxed dried pasta again!

One of the biggest mistakes chefs and home cooks make when using a pasta maker is overworking the dough. This can lead to numerous issues.

Overworking the dough can cause it to become overly sticky, which in turn causes it to stick to pasta rollers. To prevent this, keep the dough covered while resting.

Another common error is to roll pasta too quickly, which can tear its gluten network. This issue arises especially with thin and delicate varieties such as ravioli.

Preventing this from happening is to start with a thicker dough that you can work with. Once you’ve mastered this technique, move on to thinner pastas like lasagna and fettuccine.

Once the dough has reached the correct consistency and rested, run a small test batch through your pasta maker to see if any of the dry pieces stuck inside stick to this fresh sheet of dough and come out. This can be an indication that you may be rolling your pasta too quickly.

To prevent this, roll the dough in an oval shape that matches the width and thickness of your pasta roller. Doing this will guarantee that it goes through smoothly and easily.

By doing so, your dough won’t stick to the rollers and make it difficult to move through the machine. If it does stick, sprinkle some flour over them for loosening up.

Finally, if the dough is too dry or tough, it may tear when fed through the pasta maker. To prevent this from happening, run a test batch through on the widest setting before moving on to thinner settings.

Once the dough has reached the correct consistency and has rested, using a bench scraper to divide it into four or six pieces can make the process of kneading, laminating, and rolling much easier.

3. Don’t overcook the pasta

No matter if you make your own pasta or buy it for a dinner party, cooking pasta correctly is essential. With some tips and tricks, however, you can ensure your pasta turns out perfectly every time.

First and foremost, always cook your pasta in boiling water. Doing so prevents the noodles from becoming mushy and stuck together.

Next, be sure to stir your pasta frequently while cooking. Without stirring, the noodles may stick together and cook unevenly.

Additionally, add plenty of salt to your pasta water for optimal flavor absorption.

Finally, test your pasta frequently to ensure it has cooked thoroughly. When the pasta reaches an al dente texture, it is ready for consumption.

To determine if your pasta has cooked properly, look for a white ring on the bottom. This ring indicates that your pasta has reached an appropriate level of doneness and can now be served.

Once your pasta has reached the ideal al dente state, drain and transfer to a serving bowl. Always reserve some of the pasta water for adding flavor and consistency in sauces.

If your sauces are oil-based, use pasta water as a binder for the oil to help the sauce adhere to noodles. You can do this by mixing both ingredients together for one minute to allow their flavors to come together.

In addition to adding a few pinches of salt to your boiling pasta water, always rinse your noodles thoroughly after they have been cooked. Doing so prevents the noodles from becoming too mushy and allows you to enjoy your dish without fear of it turning out soggy.

If you’re searching for a faster, simpler way to create beautiful pasta, investing in a hand cranked pasta maker might be worth your while. These machines provide more consistent rotation than their manual counterparts and can help ensure the sheets of pasta have an even thickness.

4. Don’t oversalt the pasta

When making homemade pasta, be sure to avoid oversalting the noodles. This is a common error people make when using a hand-cranked pasta maker and can ruin the entire dish.

One way to help reduce this is by adding only a minimal amount of salt to your pasta water when it boils. Use premium salt like Diamond or Morton’s for this purpose.

Another way to prevent oversalting your pasta is by tasting as you cook. While this may be a little challenging, doing so helps ensure that your dish does not end up overly salty in the first place.

It’s wise to pay close attention to the sauce you use when making pasta, as it may be the source of excessive saltiness. To reduce saltiness in a dish, dilute it with milk, cream, broth or wine.

Lemon or lime juice can add zest to pasta dishes and reduce saltiness. This is especially beneficial when making cream-based or stir fry pasta dishes.

Another great solution for improving a salty pasta dish is adding cheese. Try soft cheeses like ricotta, mozzarella or mascarpone.

You could also sprinkle parmesan on top of the cheese to reduce its salty taste, though be aware that some cheeses are naturally salted and should only be used if your pasta dish already has too much salt in it.

The final approach for avoiding oversalting your pasta is by not including too many salty ingredients in your recipe. This can be especially challenging if your dish already contains salt since some of the seasonings used might also be salty.

If you enjoy making homemade pasta but lack the time or patience to do it by hand, electric pasta makers are available that can help. These machines feature a hand crank that allows users to create various shapes of noodles with ease; plus they’re affordable and user-friendly.