Pasta Preparation Equipment - Cooking Tips

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The equipment needed to make fresh homemade pasta consists of fairly basic items. At a minimum you will need a work surface, measuring cups and spoons, rolling pin, knife, and your hands for mixing and kneading. In addition to these basic items, there are other tools that can make the process simpler and allow more options in the variety of pastas you can make. Some of these tools and a brief description of each are listed below.

Equipment for Making Pasta Dough
Equipment	Description
Mixing Bowls	The bowls can be used for mixing the dough if preferred over mixing on a work surface.
Pastry Board	A large wooden board used to mix the pasta dough. It provides a good work surface and is easy to clean.
Pasta Rolling Pin	A thin long wooden rolling pin that is tapered at the ends. The pasta rolling pin works well for rolling out pasta but it takes some practice to get proficient at using it. A regular heavy, wooden rolling pin can also be used.
Flour Dredger or Sifter	A dredger is a metal container with a cover that has small holes perforated in it. It is used for sprinkling a light coat of flour on the pasta while you are working with it. The flour sifter can be used in the same manner.
Pastry Scraper	A thin stainless steel blade with a wooden handle used to scrape up dough that sticks to the work surface when working with pasta. The scrapers are sometimes made of plastic, rather than stainless steel.
Electric Mixer with Dough Hook	An electric mixer with a dough hook can be used to mix the pasta dough.
Food Processor	The processor can be used to mix the pasta dough and it can also be used to puree or liquefy vegetables, herbs, and fruits for flavored pastas.
Hand-Cranked Pasta Machine/Roller	A machine used to knead and roll the pasta dough. It also has cutting attachments used to cut different widths of pasta strands. The machine is run by a hand crank.
Hand-Cranked Extrusion Machine	A machine used to cut different shaped pasta. The machine has different die attachments to make different shapes. The machine is run by a hand crank.
Electric Extrusion Machine	A machine that mixes the pasta dough and extrudes pasta shapes and strands, depending on the type of die being used. The machine is electric and does not require hand-cranking.
Cutting/Chopping Board	A wooden or hygienic nylon board used to protect the surface it is placed on when cutting or chopping food.
Pasta Wheels	A device with a cutting wheel at one end that is used to cut pasta into strips. The edge of the wheel may be smooth or it may have a fluted edge to give the pasta a decorative edge when cutting it.
Pasta Rollers	A device with a special type of roller at one end. It is available with a variety of rollers. The rollers are made for cutting different width strands of pasta, squares and circles.
Pasta Cutters	A device, similar to a cookie cutter that is used to cut circles of pasta for making stuffed pasta such as ravioli. They are available in different sizes and with smooth or fluted edges. If you have the appropriate size cookie cutter, that will also work.
Ravioli Rolling Pin	A type of rolling pin that has indentations all around it the size of stuffed pasta squares. The rolling pin is used to mark out a sheet of pasta for making stuffed pasta squares. The squares on one side have stuffing added and then the other half is folded over to form the top layer. The squares are sealed around the edges and then slice apart into individual squares according to the markings from the rolling pin.
Ravioli Form Tray	A tray that has square perforated cutouts for stuffed pasta. A sheet of pasta is laid on top of the tray, the stuffing is added to each individual pasta square and then the top layer of pasta is added. A rolling pin is rolled over the top layer, which seals the squares and cuts them apart by applying pressure, forcing the perforated dies on the ravioli tray to cut through the pasta dough.
Butter Paddle	A wooden utensil that was traditionally used in making and processing butter. The paddle contains grooves on one side and is used to form ridges on the surface of some pastas when making them by hand. When forming specific pasta shapes, such as garganelli, the pasta is rolled over the grooves of the paddle and by applying pressure as it is rolled, ridges are formed on the surface of the pasta.
Pastry Brush	The pastry brush can be used to moisten the edges of stuffed pasta before sealing it. It can also be used to brush off excess flour on the pasta.
Drying Rack	A rack used to hang round or flat strands of pasta on to allow the pasta to dry thoroughly for storage.
Peelers and Slicers	Utensils used to shave Parmesan and other hard cheeses. They can also be used on other ingredients used to prepare pasta sauces, such as vegetables.
Knives of Various Sizes	Various size knives may be needed for different purposes. They can be used for cutting pasta and they can also be used to chop, dice and mince other ingredients that will be used in the pasta, in the pasta sauce or pasta dish.
Graters	There are various types of graters available. They are used to grate Parmesan and other hard cheeses. They can also be used to grate other ingredients such as nutmeg.
Mortar and Pestle	Tools used to pound ingredients, such as herbs, garlic, peppercorns, salt, and walnuts. The mortar and pestle are tools traditionally used to pound ingredients together to make pesto sauce.