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Best pasta makers for fresh spaghetti, ravioli and more
If you’re ready to up your pasta game and make your own from scratch, our roundup of the best pasta makers will help you say ‘pasta la vista’ to packets of dried shapes.
By Poppy O'Neill | Last updated Dec 20, 2023
Making pasta from scratch is a real joy. For a busy weekday supper it’s a massive faff; but as a hearty, healthy and special meal that doubles as a wholesome and kid-friendly activity, there’s nothing quite like fresh, home-made spaghetti, tagliatelle, ravioli or fettuccine.
The quality of your ingredients plays a big part in how well your pasta turns out: for the best results, you’ll need ‘00’ pasta flour and really fresh eggs. There are many different types of pasta maker - from rolling pin and stencil sets to fancy fully automated machines that produce a variety of shapes with zero effort. So how do you know which is the best pasta maker for you and your family?
Once again, we’ve done the hard work for you - like with our roundups of other kitchen essentials like the best microwaves, the best kettles, the best toasters, the best rice cookers, the best blenders and the best food steamers. To help you in your quest for the perfect pasta maker, we’ve dutifully searched the Mumsnet forums for wisdom and recommendations. We weighed up the pros and cons of each model to bring you our pick of this year’s crop. Here are the best pasta makers to buy in the UK.
Best pasta makers at a glance
Best overall: KitchenAid Pasta Attachment | Buy now, £169
Best budget: VonShef Fresh Pasta Machine | Buy now, £40
Best manual: Marcato Atlas 150 Pasta Machine | Buy now, £60
Best for kids: Chefly Homemade Pasta Maker | Buy now, £45
Best multipurpose: Marcato Regina Pasta Extruder | Buy now, £68
Best traditional: Imperia Italian Double Cutter | Buy now, £75
Best for ravioli: KitchenCraft World of Flavours | Buy now, £17
Most stylish: Pastoni Professional Pasta Cutter | Buy now, £56
1. Best overall pasta maker: KitchenAid Pasta Attachment
Price on writing: £169 | Buy now from Lakeland
Key specs
Size: 24 x 9 x 5cm | Types of pasta: 3
What we like
Really highly rated by Mumsnetters
Leaves your hands free
Sits high on worktop so pasta doesn’t get squashed
What we don't like
You’ll need a KitchenAid mixer for this attachment
What Mumsnet users say
"DH has made I think 90% of the pasta we eat - yeah we can't do shapes but we've adjusted to having sauces that work or ravioli - it is amazing!” - recommended by Mumsnet user, myrtleWilson
Our verdict
This pasta maker only works with a KitchenAid mixer, so if you have one or are on the fence about investing, consider this a sign. The KitchenAid pasta roller attachment is hands down the pasta maker Mumsnetters recommend most often and with most gusto. These real life reviews is exactly why we chose it as our best overall pasta maker - as well as its great features.
With three rollers included, you can make fettuccine, spaghetti and lasagne, but the real appeal of this handy gadget is that it leaves both your hands free to guide the dough through the roller, plus it will sit high on your worktop so the pasta doesn’t get bunched up and squished together. These two features take out so much of the fiddliness of pasta making while still giving that handmade feel.
Related: The best kettles to buy for brilliant brews
2. Best budget pasta maker: VonShef Fresh Pasta Machine
Price on writing: £40 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Size: 16 x 33 x 24cm | Types of pasta: 4
What we like
Includes lots of attachments for varied pastas
Comes with a clamp to steady it on your work surface
Rolls dough flat for cooking
What we don't like
Not the easiest to clean
What Mumsnet users say
“I have a VonChef one that is really good” - brand (and food mixer) recommended by Mumsnet user Blondie1984
Our verdict
For a cheap and cheerful pasta maker that does the job, may we present the VonShef pasta roller. At a bargain price of around £40, you not only get the basic roller, but also a ravioli roller, tagliatelle, spaghetti and fettuccine attachments and a spaghetti measuring tool.
The machine itself is sturdy and well made. It comes with a clamp to steady it on your work surface and it rolls the dough nice and flat ready for cooking. In order to clean it you’ll need to leave any dough to dry out as it’s not suitable for washing in water and even using a damp cloth isn’t advised. This applies to all manual roller-style pasta makers but it’s something to bear in mind before you buy.
Related: The best waffle makers to buy, as rated by Mumsnetters
3. Best manual pasta maker: Marcato Atlas 150 Pasta Machine Chrome, Silver Wellness
Price on writing: £60 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Size: 20 x 20 x 17cm | Types of pasta: 3
What we like
Simple, robust and well-made
Easy-to-use mechanism
Smooth rolling system
What we don't like
Must be cleaned with a dry brush
Compatible with 12 accessories but this basic model comes with 3
What Mumsnet users say
“Pasta machine” recommended by Mumsnet user, Havilland
Our verdict
Inventors of the world’s first manual pasta machine, Marcato produce simple, robust and well-made pasta makers and accessories. We love this Atlas design for its smooth rolling system, sharp blades and easy to use mechanism.
It’s compatible with 12 accessories allowing you to make loads of different shapes. This basic model comes with attachments for lasagne, fettuccine and tagliolini. Like other manual pasta rollers it needs to be cleaned with a dry brush, but the high quality of the design means not much dough gets stuck in the rolling process.
Related: The best bread makers to buy, according to Mumsnetters
4. Best pasta maker for kids: Chefly Homemade Pasta Maker
Price on writing: £45 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Size: 19 x 19 x 15cm | Types of pasta: 7
What we like
Good value for money
Anti-slip rubber grips
Makes 7 types of pasta
What we don't like
Can’t wash in water
Our verdict
This basic manual pasta maker from Chefly is perfect for rolling up your sleeves and making pasta with the kids. It’s sturdy, won’t break the bank and is just right for learning to make fresh pasta or experimenting with flavoured or coloured dough.
It clamps nice and firmly to the kitchen worktop or dining table, and the anti-slip rubber grips on the base of the machine stop it from sliding around.
5. Best multipurpose pasta maker: Marcato Regina Pasta Extruder
Price on writing: £68 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Size: 26 x 13 x 19cm | Types of pasta: 5
What we like
Makes tubular pasta
Traditional meets fully automated model
What we don't like
For serious pasta enthusiasts only
Our verdict
This manual pasta extruder from Marcato is for serious pasta enthusiasts. Make complex pasta shapes including fusilli, macaroni and rigatoni by feeding dough through the hole in the top and turning the crank. The machine then forces the dough through the moulds, producing tubular pasta that you cut to size using the chrome slicer.
The Regina pasta extruder is a fun and impressive kitchen gadget, and a great mid-point between traditional pasta roller and a fully automated model.
6. Best traditional pasta maker: Imperia Italian Double Cutter
Price on writing: £75 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Size: 20 x 18 x 15cm | Types of pasta: 3
What we like
Comes with recipe book
Traditional style
What we don't like
Only makes 3 types of pasta
What Mumsnet users say
"We have an Imperia which is one of the main brands in Italy and one recommended by most chefs I believe" - meanmum
Our verdict
This sleek machine from Italian brand Imperia comes highly recommended by a Mumsnetter. Featuring a wooden handle and solid steel construction, plus a sturdy clamp to keep it in place, it’s a classic design made to a high standard that'll look fab in your kitchen.
With attachments to make lasagne, fettuccine and tagliatelle, and a recipe book to get you started, this is a perfect addition to your kitchen.
7. Best ravioli maker: KitchenCraft World of Flavours Filled Ravioli Roller
Price on writing: £17 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Size: 33 x 11 x 2cm | Types of pasta: 1
What we like
Excellent price
Each segment has generous space for fillings
Good for family fun
What we don't like
Need to roll the dough before using - can be hard work
Can get fiddly
What Mumsnet users say
"How about a ravioli maker as an alternative? Makes home made stuffed pasta easier to make but is easier to clean than a roller type pasta maker. You do still have to do the initial rolling by hand though" - trebleclef101
Our verdict
A ravioli tray is a nifty alternative to a traditional pasta roller. You need to roll the dough out really thin before using the tray, which can be achieved with a rolling pin and elbow grease, or with a pasta maker.
Each segment on this KitchenCraft ravioli tray has a generous space for fillings, but it can get quite fiddly. If the roller-style pasta makers are a bit steep, at £15 this ravioli tray is a cheaper way to make delicious fresh pasta.
8. Most stylish pasta maker: Pastoni Professional Pasta Cutter
Price on writing: £56 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Size: 20 x 17 x 15cm | Types of pasta: 4
What we like
Stylish look
Fold-away pasta drying rack
Smooth, easy to operate mechanism
What we don't like
Style/colours might not suit all kitchens
Our verdict
Retailing at under £50, this retro design from Pastoni is a great choice for a colourful kitchen. Available in mustard yellow or turquoise, and with a fold-away pasta drying rack that looks like a miniature rotary washing line, it’s as cute as a button.
It’s sturdy and has a smooth, easy to operate mechanism. You can make lasagne, tagliatelle, fettuccine and spaghetti, plus it comes with the essentials like a table clamp and a non-slip base.
How to buy the best pasta maker
When choosing a pasta maker, look for good-quality materials and make sure all the accessories come included. Investing in a well-known brand will pay off, as a well-made machine will last longer and be more efficient than competitors.
Are pasta makers worth it?
If you want to make fresh pasta at home, a pasta maker is pretty indispensable. Sure, you can use a rolling pin like the nonnas of yore, but trust us, it takes a lot of work to get the dough thin enough. They’re also more versatile than you’d expect - you can use a pasta maker to make pittas, noodles and asian-style dumplings.
What’s the easiest type of pasta to make with a pasta maker?
Lasagne sheets are the simplest type of pasta to make, with long, wide strips of fettuccine coming a close second.
What’s the best pasta maker to buy?
If you’re lucky enough to have a KitchenAid, the pasta attachment is utterly brilliant and we think it’s the best pasta maker out there. If not, an Italian-made traditional pasta maker by Marcato or Imperia will keep you in delicious fresh pasta for years to come; or VonShef is a great budget option.
How we chose our recommendations
Because we know that there’s nothing like a real recommendation, we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out which pasta makers families had bought for their kitchens.
We then did some research across the wider web, looking at which pasta makers had won accolades or been featured in ‘best buy’ lists across websites, and what customer reviews said about them. Having collated all that information, we picked the pasta makers we think are the best buys for a variety of types of pasta.
About the author
Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She's been researching and reviewing baby and child products for 2 years, with a particular focus on baby essentials, toys and books for toddlers, outdoor play equipment, as well as kitchen gadgets designed to make family mealtimes easier. From potties to paddling pools and bunk beds to bedtime stories, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the best products out there.
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