The 6 Best Pasta Makers of 2024, According to Testing

The Bottom Line

We chose the Philips Compact Pasta and Noodle Maker HR2370/05 as our best overall pasta maker due to several top marks achieved during the testing process. It created quite a bit of pasta in a short amount of time, and the pasta was consistently delicious and cooked perfectly. 

Our Testing Process 

To find the best pasta makers, we tested 10 tabletop rollers, seven extruders, and four roller attachments.

For each product model, we used consistent dough recipes to ensure the dough itself was uniform so the end product could be attributed to the machine’s performance. With each machine, we made spaghetti, fettuccine/linguine, and penne/rigatoni.

During the pasta making process we took note of how easy the machine was to use and clean, how the machine performed in rolling the dough to specific thickness, and how the pasta looked and tasted. 

Depending on the model, we noted individual quirks that either enhanced or diminished the machine’s efficiency. For example, we noted if the hand crank on a machine was easy to use or if an automatic machine made too much noise. After evaluating all the pasta makers, we compared the findings to determine the best ones. 

What to Know About Pasta Makers Before Shopping

Manual or Electric

Pasta makers are available as an electric (or automatic) maker, or as a manual pasta maker. Choosing the right one largely depends on personal preference, but Sullivan says manual cranks are especially ideal for beginners. 

“I would say, at first, keep it simple,” he says. “Use a hand-crank. Sometimes for someone who is not experienced, the speed of an automatic roller may be frustrating or too much. A hand crank allows you to go slower and gives you complete control.”

“We use a hand crank pasta maker at the restaurant, but it really depends on the person,” he says. “You can buy automatic pasta makers, but the thing with hand cranks is you have more control over the dough and how it rolls versus an automatic one.”

Dies and Cutters

A die is a bronze dial that fits onto a pasta machine that forms the pasta into an individual shape, such as fusilli or orecchiette. It creates the individual grooves and intricacies that make each type of pasta special. A pasta cutter is the device that slices the dough as it rolls to create the spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine strands. 

Most pasta machines come with a set of dies or cutters, the most common being spaghetti and fettuccine. While some people feel more comfortable cutting their pasta by hand with a roller or a knife, using the cutters that come with the machine allows the user more freedom in knowing the pasta will be cut correctly. 

Material

Stainless steel is a staple in pasta maker construction because it’s reliable and durable. While some pasta makers are made with plastic pieces, this construction isn’t as sturdy as stainless steel. Stainless steel pasta makers are usually smaller and can be stored easily, while plastic components on automatic or electric machines are more bulky and take up counter space. 

While steel is more durable, like any piece of machinery, it requires a little more attention to detail. It requires more thorough cleaning and typically cannot be washed in the dishwasher like some plastic models. While the individual machine parts may be higher quality, they also need to be cared for and cleaned to ensure they have a long life making pasta.

“Steel products, they’re just made better,” he says. “Solid pasta makers that are going to last you a long time and work well, they have to be made of quality materials in order to give you quality product.”

Other Pasta Makers We Tested 

CucinaPro 5 Piece Pasta Maker Deluxe Set (VD-43551KC) (S178)

The CucinaPro 5 Piece Pasta Maker Deluxe Set (VD-43551KC) (S178) was a very stable tabletop machine that secured tightly to the table and didn’t budge throughout the testing process. This pasta maker is durably constructed of stainless steel, and the rollers have 10 settings ranging from zero to nine. However, we found the dial was not clearly marked and it was a little difficult to read what setting we were turning to.

There were no jam or clogging issues with the rollers, but most of the spaghetti noodles had to be separated by hand. Overall, the machine worked well, but there were too many glitches in the pasta making process, and even at its price point, we considered it too overpriced.

KitchenAid 3-Piece Pasta Maker Attachment Set (KSMPRA)

The KitchenAid 3-Piece Pasta Maker Attachment Set (KSMPRA) was extremely durable and sleek with its stainless steel construction. The three attachments slid into the attachment slot of the KitchenAid mixer and it held firm throughout the pasta rolling process. The attachments also slid in and out with ease, and moving the dough through the rollers was effortless.

With each roll, the dough stayed intact and smooth and never once frayed or tore. We also found that the cutters were durable and well made. They sliced through the dough with ease and created a smooth and uniform noodle each time without any jams or clogs. This product came very close to being the best overall pasta maker because it performed so well. 

Starfrit Electric Pasta and Noodle Maker

The Starfit Electric Pasta and Noodle Maker had ease of use all the way around. This pasta maker only has two buttons: Start and Extrude, which made the process straightforward and simple. The dies and cutters were also easy to apply and remove, and they cut the pasta easily and efficiently. We did note that the pasta needed to be floured upon extrusion to avoid it sticking together, but none of the pasta needed to be separated by hand, which was a plus.

Upon use, we could tell this pasta maker was not as durable as we would look for in a pasta maker. The maker is constructed with predominantly plastic, and though we noted it was quality plastic used in items like coffee makers, we also recognized that it may crack or warp if stressed. 

Your Questions, Answered

Are pasta makers worth it? 

“If you’re going to be one of those people who truly enjoys making pasta on a regular basis, then yes, pasta makers are worth it,” he says. “If you’re only going to be making pasta every once in a while, then you may as well learn to do it by hand, because otherwise you’re going to be purchasing something that just takes up space.”

How much should I spend on a pasta maker?

“I have one at my house, and I paid maybe $50 for it,” he says. “Obviously, the more money you spend, it doesn’t mean it’s necessarily better at making pasta, but the parts of the machine, all the little cogs and pieces, are made better and it will handle wear-and-tear better. If you go cheap and you only plan on making pasta every once in a while, then, yes, go as cheap as possible.”

The most affordable pasta maker on our list is the Hamilton Beach Traditional Pasta Machine 86655 at less than $50, while the most expensive is the Philips Avance Collection Pasta and Noodle Maker HR2375/06 at almost $300. 

Sullivan says for those who want to make pasta regularly, investing in a more expensive model is the way to go as it will last longer. 

Who We Are

Michelle Love is a freelance commerce writer for Better Homes & Gardens. She has worked in the journalism field for over 10 years, and she has also worked in the restaurant industry for 13 years. Her experience in restaurants has provided her with an extensive insight into what goes into the culinary arts and the importance of good food. For this article, she interviewed Trent Sullivan, who is the executive chef for Cayo Coco Rum Bar in Birmingham, Alabama. He is also the owner of Ember, a private chef company also located in Birmingham.

What is BHG Recommends?

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.