Villaware Chrome Hand Crank Pasta Machine: The secret to making great pasta.
Written: Apr 30 '05 (Updated May 17 '05)
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Pros: The best way to make pasta,
Cons: Takes time to make pasta, harder to use without the motor.
The Bottom Line: If you want fresh pasta then this is the tool you need.
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| yakkowarner's Full Review: Villaware Chrome Hand Crank Pasta Machine |
The first time I made pasta I had a lot of fun with it. I followed a recipe in my cookbook that recommended making the dough in my food processor first. It came out beautifully. I then let it rest before I started to roll it out to use with my new ravioli maker.. It was exciting because it was my first time making something I never thought I could do, but it was also a lot of work. After I was done I had great tasting plain pasta and….lets just say unique ravioli. But it was a still good thing. I swore I would never roll pasta by hand again so I did not use my ravioli maker for a few months. So a few months later I got the imperial pasta machine.
I used it with success several times until is started to get clogged up. I eventually had to take it apart to clean it out and then it did not work as well. So I eventually bought this machine which is essentially the same device but it has not clogged up on me like the other machine did, at least not yet.
Now this was a neat device and it did make pasta rolling much easier, but there were problems. The first was it needed to be clamped down. Well I had no lip on my counter top so I couldn't clamp it. Now the pasta roller would move around when I cranked it, this made the job nearly impossible. The second problem is I had to crank it with one hand and this left me with only one hand in which to feed the pasta. If this was how I was supposed to use the machine then I decided that I was never going to use this machine again. So I eventually bought the pasta machine motor that did the cranking for you. Note, this experience was with the imperial, but the same experience could easily have happened with the Villaware. The motor is a must with this machine and should never be bought separately.
How it works.
After you make the dough (I use a food processor for this) you just need to roll it moderately thin so it fits in between the rollers at setting 7. Then you guide the pasta through the rollers. At this point you can fold it over and continue to put it through the rollers at setting 7 or you decrease it one level and continue to roll it through without folding it over. If you want thicker pasta then I recommend stopping at level 2, but if you want a thin pasta then roll it at setting 1. Just keep in mind that you will have to be careful with a very thin sheet of pasta, it will break.
After you have your sheet of pasta then you can make ravioli with it (either with the attachment, use 10 square ravioli maker, or you can use the linguini/angel hair pasta rollers (or one of the other attachments that come extra). With these rollers you put the pasta through just like before but the end product is the string/flat type pasta we are all familiar with. The other option is to cut the pasta yourself.
How long should this take?
That entirely depends on what you want and how long you want your pasta to rest. From start to finish you can have cooked pasta noodles in 15-20 minutes if you know what you are doing. For your first time it will take longer, like an hour. If you take me advise and rest then expect to take 1-3 hours.
You should decide if you want to rest your dough and noodles. This is entirely up to you but I find that I have an easier time using the dough in the pasta machine after I have let the dough rest for 30 minutes (covered with a lightly damp towel.) I also think the pasta tastes a little better if it also rests for 15-30 minutes after being processed in the rollers.
Problems
It is relatively easy to use but you need to be aware of some problems. The first is if your pasta is too sticky then it will clog up the rollers. The pasta will stick to the rollers and the inner workings instead of coming out the bottom. I think this was my problem with the imperial model and why it died on me.
The next problem is if you do not feed the pasta in straight then it will not come out right. So when you feed it make sure the roller catches the whole pasta sheet and not just one side. This just takes practice and should be labeled a warning and not a problem.
The Third problem is you need to use the clamp if you hand crank the unit (the motor listed below eliminates the need for the clamp.) The clamp itself is not the problem, finding a place to clamp onto is. My kitchen counter has a curved lip to it and the clamp would not hold. So the first time I used a pasta machine it just kept slipping off when I was using it. So I refused to use the machine until I bought the motor, which was only a couple of weeks later.
The fourth problem is with the hand-cranking model. You really need 2 hands to feed the pasta through and the hand crank model requires one hand to use. The solution is to buy the pasta machine motor. This accessory fits into the same port the hand crank fits into and automatically turns the rollers.
The only other problem I have with this unit (in comparison to the Villaware unit) is it lacks the bar the secures the motor properly. But it does have the groove so you can secure it with rubber bands or another heavy object. I should have bought the unit with the bar instead but securing it against another object of using rubberbands also works.
What it comes with
The machine roller unit, the angel hair/linguini attachment (already attached but can come off), the hand crank, a cutter to cup lasagna strips, and a clamp.
Suggestions
Make sure your pasta is made correctly. If it is too sticky then it will stick to the rollers and gum up the machine, if it is too dry it will crumble and fall apart when it exits the rollers.
Get the pasta motor, it makes the process so much easier.
Tips
I use all purpose flour, eggs, and olive oil for my dough. I have tried cake flour and it just did not come out right. I read somewhere that the heavy in protein flours were best for dried and packaged pastas, where as the all-purpose flour-egg-olive oil mix was best for making fresh dough. I'm not sure how true that is but I have had the best results when using the all-purpose flour mix.
And always be patient, have fun, and let yourself make mistakes when cooking. I have made a lot of bad pasta through my many experiments and I have had a lot of pasta thrown in the trash. But ultimately I learned from those mistakes and if you want to learn how to make good pasta, then you will make mistakes because cooking it is more of an art than a science.
Optional equipment you may want to consider
-A motor that moves the rollers for you
-roller attachments for making Angel hair, wide lasagna, trenette, spaghetti, lasagnette and fettuccine.
-A ravioli maker attachment.
-Pasta Drying rack
My recommended alternative
I do not have experience with a Kitchen-aid so this is an opinion, but if you have a Kitchen-aid then I recommend that pasta attachment over this unit. The package will be more expensive overall but I think it will be easier to use.
Dimensionsincluding attachment
Height: 6 inches
Width: 8 inches
Length: 8 inches
Final warning
Make sure the pasta is made correctly, with the right moisture content. I highly suggest you let the past rest for ½ hour before putting it though the machine. And finally, have some patience with this machine if you are not an experienced cook. I do not want to discourage you from this product but like all good food it will take practice to perfect. Trust me, it is a worthwhile product for those of you that have time to prepare a great meal for your family.
Summary
I love this machine and I do not use it enough. With just all purpose flour, eggs, and olive oil I can make some of the best pasta I have ever eaten. But this is not an extruder, it is a roller. So the final product will be a sheet or a rope like product. So ravioli, lasagna, round string pasta, and the flat string pasta are all possible. Macaroni and other tube like pastas are not possible with this machine. The machine also requires time and patience to use. But if you enjoy cooking and making a mess in the kitchen then I highly recommend this product. I definitely recommend this product over any of the "automatic" pasta makers because the taste and texture are far superior.
Other reviews you might be interested in.
Ronco Pasta maker
Villaware Meat Grinder
10 square ravioli maker.
Imperia motor.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 40
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