We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Healthy Lifestyle Kitchen Essentials The Best Pasta Makers and Pasta-Making Tools, Tested and Approved Because nothing beats homemade pasta By Tiffany Vickers Davis Tiffany Vickers Davis Tiffany Vickers Davis was raised in North Carolina by an excellent cook, her German-born mother Heide. She was exposed to a great variety of foods, enjoying made-from-scratch meals most nights. It wasn't until she moved to Los Angeles after completing her journalism degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that Tiffany began taking an interest in cooking herself. Once she started, she was hooked. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 17, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Brierley Horton, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Brierley Horton, M.S., RD Brierley is a dietitian nutritionist, content creator and strategist, and avid mental health advocate. She is co-host and co-creator of the Happy Eating Podcast, a podcast that breaks down the connection between food and mental wellness. Brierley previously served as Food & Nutrition Director for Cooking Light magazine and the Nutrition Editor at EatingWell magazine. She holds a master's degree in Nutrition Communications from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. Her work has appeared in Better Homes & Gardens, Southern Living, Real Simple, Livestrong.com, TheKitchn and more. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Photo: EatingWell / Russell Kilgore Making your own pasta can inspire excitement in some and angst in others, but the final product is hands-down unbeatable. “Bad carb” no more, a recent study in Nutrients gives us all permission to love our noodles, stating that, “unlike many other refined grains, the unique structure of pasta makes it a low-glycemic carbohydrate. Low-glycemic-index (GI)/load diets have been shown to be beneficial for weight loss or maintenance, even when the low-GI diet includes pasta.” Researchers also found (after reviewing 38 studies of pasta eating habits) that people who regularly eat pasta aren't more likely to be overweight compared to people who eat less pasta. Thankfully, modern-day pasta makers simplify the process, allowing anyone to produce delicious, hand-made noodles. From hand-crank, tabletop pasta makers, to wheels and drying racks, to extruder models that make the dough and create perfect penne pasta all-in-one, our experts found the pasta makers and pasta accessories for every level of home chef. Here are our top picks. Our Top Recommendations Pasta Makers Best Overall: Marcato Atlas 150 Pasta Machine Also Great, Tabletop: Imperia Pasta Maker Machine Best Value, Tabletop: CucinaPro 5 Piece Pasta Maker Deluxe Set Best Electric: Philips Viva Collection Compact Pasta and Noodle Maker Best Value, Electric: Starfrit Electric Pasta and Noodle Maker Pasta-Making Tools Best Attachment: Antree Pasta Maker Attachment 3-in-1 Set for KitchenAid Stand Mixers Best Attachment Splurge: KitchenAid 3-Piece Pasta Maker Attachment Set Best Pasta & Pastry Wheel: Sur La Table Double Pastry Cutter Best Pasta Drying Rack: CucinaPro 515 Pasta Drying Rack Best Budget Pasta Drying Rack: Ourokhome Collapsible Pasta Drying Rack Best Overall: Marcato Atlas 150 Pasta Machine Amazon Buy on Amazon $120 Buy on Crate & Barrel $125 Buy on Sur La Table $90 What we like: The Atlas is incredibly easy to use and cleanup takes little effort. What to know: You may have to hand-separate your spaghetti noodles. With its simple design and solid construction, this Italian-made table top pasta device was our hands-down favorite. The clamp-and-screw mechanism made anchoring it to the counter very easy and stable. Operating the crank was comfortable and smooth, the handle felt more solid than most, and we enjoyed the ease of rolling the pasta back and forth. The Atlas has 10 different roller settings, with an easy-to-adjust pull and turn dial, allowing for a good range of thickness options. While the cutter for spaghetti did not cut as well as we would have liked, this machine cut our fettuccine to a perfect thickness, making us appreciate the excellent guidance provided by the manufacturer’s instructions. This compact and sleek-looking 5-pound machine is easy to disassemble for cleaning. A quick wipe with a pastry brush or soft cloth and you can store this until your next pasta foray. Operation Mode: Manual | Attachments: Lasagna, fettuccine, spaghetti | Product Dimensions: 7.87”L x 7.87”W x 5.7”H | Dishwasher safe: No EatingWell / Russell Kilgore Also Great, Tabletop: Imperia Pasta Maker Machine Amazon Buy on Amazon $70 Buy on Target $70 Buy on Walmart $90 What we like: The Imperia is durably designed with high quality construction. What to know: The instructions are only in Italian, which made initial use a little challenging. The solid stainless steel fabrication of the Imperia was a real stand-out in our testing. Clamping the machine to the table felt very stable. The cutters and rollers were easy to operate and allowed pasta dough to move through the thinning process without any curls, jams or ripping. The wood grip handle was easy to seat in the gear and comfortable to use; however, it did dislodge when changing accessories or moving the table. The double-cutter head made clean cuts on both the spaghetti and fettuccine noodles with no clogging or sticking. We did encounter a challenge when changing the cutting heads at first, due to the instructions, which were all in Italian. Despite the translation hurdle, we felt this was a great machine for beginners, especially those looking to make pasta frequently. Operation Mode: Manual | Attachments: Spaghetti, fettuccine, lasagna | Product Dimensions: 8.23”L x 7.48”W x 6.77”H | Dishwasher safe: No EatingWell / Russell Kilgore Best Value, Tabletop: CucinaPro 5-Piece Pasta Maker Deluxe Set Amazon Buy on Walmart $55 Buy on Wayfair $66 What we like: This model comes with three attachments for a wider variety of pasta shapes than other manual models. What to know: You may have to put a little muscle into the crank when rolling on the thinner settings. Ideal for someone who wants to experiment more with pasta shapes, this table top model cuts angel hair and ravioli, in addition to the standard spaghetti and fettuccine. Constructed of stainless steel, it is quite light until the cutters are attached. The table clamp works very well to stabilize the machine, even when bumped and pushed. We liked that all of the cutters were housed in one attachment, easily sliding into place using two slots on the sides. The dial offers nine settings for thinning the noodles, and although we did find the thinner levels more challenging to crank, the rollers and cutters move through any sticky dough without fraying or wrinkling the pasta. At times, we found the hand crank to be a little too easy to unseat during operation, but a little more care with our movements helped keep it in place. Operation Mode: Manual | Attachments: Lasagnette, fettuccine, angel hair, spaghetti, ravioli | Product Dimensions: 8"L x 7.8"W x 6"H | Dishwasher safe: Yes Best Electric: Philips Viva Collection Compact Pasta and Noodle Maker Amazon Buy on Williams-Sonoma $180 Buy on Crate & Barrel $180 Buy on Sur La Table $230 What we like: The Philips Viva is practically hands-off and super quiet. What to know: The plastic construction isn’t as nice as we would have expected from this model. The Philips Viva not only makes the dough and pasta for you, it also produces some of the best-looking spaghetti we’ve gotten from any machine. The manufacturer’s instructions come with a simple dough recipe that requires the user to add ingredients to the machine and the device does the rest. We found the cooked fettuccine had a great al dente texture. This extruder model not only makes the standard spaghetti and fettuccine but also puts out a nice, evenly shaped penne. Cutting the pasta from the machine was easy with the included cutting tool. Although this machine asks a higher price than the manual models we tested, we found it was well worth the extra cost. With other attachments available for lasagna, pappardelle, angel hair and tagliatelle (view on Amazon), this machine can crank out a large amount of ready-to-cook pasta in a short amount of time, making it ideal for large families. The dishwasher-safe design also gives this heavy-lifting machine a distinct advantage over its competitors. Operation Mode: Electric | Attachments: Spaghetti, fettuccine, penne | Product Dimensions: 5.5"L x 13.5"W x 10.75"H | Dishwasher safe: Yes EatingWell / Russell Kilgore Best Value, Electric: Starfrit Electric Pasta and Noodle Maker Amazon Buy on Amazon $130 Buy on Target $136 Buy on Walmart $130 What we like: With only two buttons for control, this machine is a breeze to operate. What to know: Larger batches of pasta seem to strain the motor. Perfect for small families, this electric machine works well, producing nearly restaurant-quality fettuccine. And the fun doesn’t stop there! This machine comes with several different discs, making up to nine different pasta shapes. The discs are easy to attach to the machine and the cutters make clean separations in the finished pasta. We found this machine works best with a half-batch of dough, producing smooth, uniform noodles without any clogging or sticking. With a full batch, the dough seemed overworked a bit, which strained the motor during extrusion. Cleanup was as simple as brushing the parts with the included brush and wiping the machine with a damp towel. Operation Mode: Electric | Attachments: Penne, spaghetti, lasagna, angel hair, fettuccine, tagliatelle, spaghettini, ravioli, dumplings | Product Dimensions: 10.43”L x 13.78”W x 6.69”H | Dishwasher safe: No Best Attachment: Antree Pasta Maker Attachment 3-in-1 Set for KitchenAid Stand Mixers Amazon Buy on Amazon $100 Buy on Walmart $102 What we like: It’s easy to move to the cutting stage without stopping to change out parts. What to know: The Antree only works in tandem with a KitchenAid mixer. For the expert or beginner, this pasta making attachment gets high marks for the consistency of dough and pasta on each setting and overall ease of use. We were impressed with the perfectly-shaped noodles that didn’t need manual separation. The attachment's high mount position allows for a greater clearance under the rollers to handle the pasta, resulting in less crimping and breaking. The attachment is well-made and sturdy, yet small enough for storage in a drawer between uses. Though it is not dishwasher safe, the top panel is easy to remove for cleaning around the rollers, cutters and gears. EatingWell / Russell Kilgore Best Attachment Splurge: KitchenAid 3-Piece Pasta Maker Attachment Set (KSMPRA) Amazon Buy on Amazon $150 Buy on Target $220 Buy on Williams-Sonoma $220 What we like: It is extremely easy to use and clean. What to know: Moving from rolling dough to cutting the pasta requires a change of parts. Made specifically for the KitchenAid stand mixer, this attachment is sleek in design, and made of a high-quality stainless steel. Small enough for easy storage, we found this attachment very easy to clean with the included brush. The attachment performed well with thinning the dough and the cutters made distinct strands of both fettuccine and spaghetti with no clogs or jams. Though a little more pricey than the Antree, this attachment is a terrific buy for folks who love the KitchenAid brand. EatingWell / Russell Kilgore Best Pasta & Pastry Wheel: Sur La Table Double Pastry Cutter Sur La Table Buy on Sur La Table $15 What we like: The dual cutting wheels offer straight and ruffled cut options. What to know: This cutter must be hand washed. This stainless-steel wheel allows for quick and clean cuts on your handmade pasta. The ruffled wheel makes decorative borders a breeze as well. It has a nice heft to it, and comes with a hanging loop for an added storage option. This tool makes it easy to cut long pastas, lasagna noodles or make squares for beautiful ravioli. Small and sturdy, this pastry wheel is a must-add to your pasta-making arsenal. Best Pasta Drying Rack: CucinaPro 515 Pasta Drying Rack Amazon Buy on Amazon $25 Buy on Walmart $23 What we like: The CucinaPro has ample space for pasta to dry without allowing individual strands to touch. What to know: It requires 2 to 3 minutes of assembly and does not collapse for storage. Designed for holding a lot of pasta, this drying rack was our favorite for its smart design and ease of use. The dowels are evenly spaced and can be individually removed, making it a breeze to load the pasta. Fragile dried noodles can be transported to the final location on the included dowel, substantially reducing breakage. We found the wooden rack to be very stable, even when the feet are moved, and the height is just right to suspend long noodles above your counter’s surface. Though it's terrific for long noodles, however, this rack does not accommodate other pasta shapes. EatingWell / Russell Kilgore Best Budget Pasta Drying Rack: Ourokhome Collapsible Pasta Drying Rack Amazon Buy on Amazon $13 What we like: It comes assembled and is easy to open and snap into place. What to know: The Ourokhome rack requires hand-washing, but cleans up easily. Constructed of plastic, this spoke-style drying rack features large-footed pop-out legs with rubber feet that attach easily to your countertop for stability. We found the arms, though uniform in height, offered plenty of room for spacing noodles to dry without touching, and removing delicate dried noodles was as easy as sliding them to a plate. While not dishwasher-safe, we found this rack to be debris-resistant, requiring only a swipe with a damp cloth to fully clean for storage. With its attractive price point and array of fun colors, this rack is a great purchase for pasta enthusiasts. EatingWell / Russell Kilgore The Bottom Line: The Best Pasta Maker If you're into making pasta by hand, go with the Marcato Atlas 150 Pasta Machine (view on Amazon). It is well made, sturdy and easy to use. The fettuccine is unbeatable and the size of the maker is perfect for easy storage. For less work and more flexibility in pasta shapes, try the Philips Viva Collection Compact Pasta and Noodle Maker (HR2370/05) (view on Amazon). All you need to do is add the ingredients and you can have fresh pasta without the hassle of kneading, thinning or cutting. You can create fun shapes like penne and rigatoni, and the machine operates very quietly. Choosing a Pasta Maker Material Manual tabletop models are most often constructed of stainless or carbon steel. This material is sturdy and solid, and most importantly easy to clean. Though only one manual machine on our list was dishwasher safe, the others were easily cleaned with a brush (typically included with the product) and a damp cloth. Electric machines typically have plastic exteriors, while the moving parts are made of steel. Larger in size than the manual machines, these models house reservoirs for mixing and kneading the dough before pressing it through the shaping discs. Though not tremendously heavy, these devices are more cumbersome. While only the Philips is dishwasher safe, none of the models we tested came away with poor ratings for ease of cleaning. Design Manual machines are designed to be very sleek, easy to operate and limited in purpose. They are great for flat pasta shapes including spaghetti and fettuccine, but do not work for tubular pastas like penne and rigatoni. Some, we found, housed the rollers and cutters in the same piece, while others required the user to stop and change attachments from rolling to cutting the pasta. Each featured a hand crank and dial for thinning the pasta, though the number of positions on the dial varied from model to model. Electric, and more specifically extruder, models are designed to perform more functions, including mixing, kneading and forming the pasta shapes through discs or dies. Extruders are made specifically to handle the complexity of hollow and twisted shapes, in addition to flat pastas. With the additional mechanics, these machines vary in how much noise they produce while making the dough and during extrusion. Size Something to consider with any type of pasta maker is the size of the machine. Considering your storage and how frequently you plan to use the device will allow for a better gauge on what kind of maker will work best for you. Table top manual models are certainly more compact, while extruders may require extra storage. Accessories If you are new to fresh pasta, you may find that making a few batches will direct your needs for accessories. A drying rack is specific in purpose but very useful if dried pasta is your thing, while a cutting tool can help elevate your cuts with fancy ruffled edges. Our Tests for the Best Pasta Maker and Pasta-Making Tools In our effort to find the best pasta makers available, we looked at each device for its design, ease of use, performance, cleaning and overall value, weighting performance at the highest level. We acquainted ourselves with each machine by reading any literature included to ensure we followed any device machine-specific instructions. We then conducted each test with the same dough, pasta shapes and criteria to ensure a level playing field. With the tabletop models, setting up each machine allowed us to evaluate the quality and size of the machines, how well they clamped to the table and how easy they were to assemble and operate. We first tested rolling out the dough, where we rated the ease and comfort of the hand crank in addition to the performance of the rollers and gears when moving through the levels of thickness. Each machine was tested on standard pasta cuts to rate how well the cutters divided the noodles, whether the machines clogged or tore the pasta and how easy it was to change any parts for the second task. Our final evaluation was based on how easy each device was to clean after making pasta and how simple the machine and any accessories would be to store. Extruder models (models able to produce pasta shapes from a die such as penne and rigatoni) were set up and evaluated on their ease of use, overall design and look and their ability to quietly produce various pasta shapes. These machines, with the exception of the KitchenAid attachment, came with manufacturer-specific dough recipes that, once ingredients were added to the reservoir, the machine would process to the point of noodle production. We cooked each noodle produced and evaluated them on taste and texture. For pasta-making tools, we evaluated each on its intended functions, such as how well it dried or cut the pastas. How easy these accessories were to clean and store were also contributing factors in our final decision. We Also Considered: Rethone Pasta Maker Attachment for KitchenAid Stand Mixers ($80 at Amazon):We like that the roller and two cutters are housed in the mechanism, and the attachment was very easy to clean. The KitchenAid attachment screw does not work with this device, but the bolt it comes with works beautifully. Hamilton Beach Electric Pasta and Noodle Maker ($140 at Amazon): Great for beginners, this pasta maker worked quickly, producing pasta from raw ingredients to cookable noodles in around 30 minutes. It does require some observation to work through the process the first time as the buttons and instructions were not fully intuitive. Sänger Wooden Pasta Dryer ($25 on Amazon): This drying rack was very sturdy and held a good amount of pasta. It would be best for folks with ample counter space as it fell on the larger side of the products we tested. Common Questions Can you make pasta without a machine? Artisanal pastas have long been made by hand without the use of any devices. Hand-rolled pasta dough does take skill and patience but the reward for your hard work is delicious flavor and texture. If getting it right without tremendous effort is more your speed, then a machine will add some ease in rolling and cutting your dough to perfection. How do you clean a pasta maker? Most of our tabletop machines required only a damp cloth and maybe a brushing to release any stuck-on pasta or flour residue. Some of the extruder models are dishwasher safe. How does a pasta extruder work? The extruder works by pressing the pasta dough through a die or plastic discs which allow for shapes, such as tubes and spirals, that would be difficult to produce by hand. How long can I store fresh pasta? Though dried pasta offers storage lengths of 2 to 6 months, fresh pasta can also be stored easily. Placing your pasta in an air-tight container for storage will yield the best results. If you are not going to eat your pasta within one day, freezing it is the best option. Keep in mind that the humidity of the refrigerator will alter the taste and texture after about 24 hours. How long do you dry pasta on a rack? Once you have your fresh pasta, coat it lightly with some flour and lay it out or use a rack to hang your pasta for 12 to 24 hours. The length of time will depend on the temperature and humidity in the room where it is drying. You can test your pasta by trying to break off a piece. When it snaps and doesn’t bend or twist, it is fully dried. Our Trusted Expertise A lifelong pasta lover, Tiffany Vickers Davis is a chef, writer and food entrepreneur with more than 25 years experience. Beginning in high-profile restaurant kitchens, she currently owns and operates a fresh prepared meal company that ships nationally. Prior to starting her company, she was the Test Kitchen Director at Cooking Light Magazine, testing hundreds of products from stoves to knives during her 14-year tenure with the brand. As one of the testers of these pasta makers, she had hands-on insight into the testing process and performance markers. This article was edited by Katie Tuttle, a food editor and contributor to publications such as Food & Wine and The Spruce Eats. She has been reaping the rewards of her KitchenAid pasta attachment for years. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. 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