If you’ve decided to buy a pasta rolling machine, you will have to make a choice between an electric and a hand crank machine. Each type has its pros and cons when it comes to user friendliness, available features, and ease of cleaning, not to mention the end result: the quality of the pasta.
Hand crank pasta rollers tend to be cheaper than the electric models. Most of these devices have a clamp for attaching them to the countertop or a table to keep them from tipping over. One of the advantages of a hand crank unit is that you can experience pasta making in the more traditional manner. Half the fun of making pasta is the hands-on experience: cranking it out and gauging the thickness of the dough helps you to learn what good pasta looks and feels like.
An electric pasta rolling machine will usually cost you more money, but you can balance that against the fact that it will save you a great deal of time, not to mention hard work! A significant advantage of the electric models is that you can produce a lot more pasta in much less time. If you’re feeding a crowd, or eat pasta several days each week, then an electric pasta maker might be a better choice.
Pasta purists will continue to use the hand crank machines because there is so much pleasure involved in the process, and they have more control over the outcome. But if they don’t always have a lot of time on their hands, a good compromise would be to purchase a hand crank unit as well as a separate motor attachment that automates the process.
Hand crank pasta makers cost anywhere from $25 to $100 or more. Electric pasta rolling machines start at $150. Click here to see the selection of pasta rolling machines at Amazon.com.
