Pasta maker

[wantsomepasta]

Hi All, I want to make my own pasta. I already have a kitchen aid mixer and the attachment is S$400 and I have to order it.
My question is how much should a pasta maker cost and has anyone seen any around? Any recommendations?

[Ravioli]

A good rolling pin and a sharp knife are all you need to make the pasta once you have made the dough. 

However there is more to it than the machine.  Making pasta in Singapore is a very hit and miss affair due to the high humidity.  Unless you want to get up at 5am to make it I would not bother trying till late November when the temps are cooler and humidity marginally lower.

If you are determined to try make sure that you have the best possible flour and a good mixer.  Then roll the sheets out thinly andd cut to your desired pasta.  Whether it is lasagne, fettucini or even ravioli you really dont need to spend over $400 on a machine to make it.

[But....]

You should have a look online to see what it would cost to order the attachment from overseas and have it delivered. Failing that, you can buy those little metal pasta rollers in department stores here. The biggest problem is actually hanging it up to dry. It makes such a mess hanging floury bits of pasta everywhere. We make in bulk and freeze what we don't use.

[wantsomepasta]

Thanks all for your input.  Well I just checked and it will cost S$200 to ship it here through Amazon.  I didn't realise the humidity would play a part. Hmmm will have to think about it.

How much better do you rate homemade over store bought? How easy is the dough, do you have to play around with it a bit to get the mix just right?

[Ravioli]

The dough is very easy to make as the ingredients are minimal, however you do need to "work" it to get the right consistency so a good mixer with a dough hook will save you the trouble.

Fresh pasta is infinetly better than store bought dried pasta though there are some expensive dried pastas that are very good.  Fresh pasta also takes a lot less time to cook.

If you want to see how much better it is got to Da Paolo's on Jalan Saga Merah and buy some of their freshly made pasta - not cheap but great taste especially the coloured pastas made with things like squid ink, spinach etc.

[Liliankoh]

Hi All, I want to make my own pasta. I already have a kitchen aid mixer and the attachment is S$400 and I have to order it.
My question is how much should a pasta maker cost and has anyone seen any around? Any recommendations?

what brand you brought?

[not sure..]

however you do need to "work" it to get the right consistency so a good mixer with a dough hook will save you the trouble.

Not sure I agree.  I have an ancient pasta roller from Italy (no way would i mess round with a rolling pin too lazy sorry) but for the dough i just mix by hand reasonably quickly, rest for half hour, then roll.  It's perfect.  A dough hook would overmix and make it tough.