Equipment

There are two methods you can use to make pasta, rolling it out by hand or using a pasta machine. Both methods make great pasta. I prefer pasta that is rolled out by hand using a wooden pin and wooden work surface to that created using a pasta machine. This allows you to create large sheets of pasta that can be cut and formed into a large variety of pasta shapes. However, I rarely have the time or patience to roll pasta out by hand. I also currently do not have a large enough workspace to roll out large sheets of pasta. Rolling out thin pasta also takes practice and is hard work. So for the pasta beginner I strongly recommend a pasta machine.

My instructions will cover pasta made using a pasta machine. It is so much quicker and easier to make pasta using a pasta machine that I almost exclusively make pasta using one. You can make pasta quickly without a machine, but it takes a lot of experience to roll pasta out quickly. If you are at the stage where you are quickly rolling out pasta, why are you reading my site? And please send some basic instructions to help the rest of us roll pasta as quickly as you.

Clean Work Surface Making, shaping & cutting the pasta requires a lot of room. When rolling pasta out by hand a wood surface is preferred.
Large Pot with Lid A large stock pot can be purchased cheaply from a restaurant supply store. At about half the cost of Calpha?#$ or All-C%$# (full trade names blocked out to preserve anonymity) high quality pots and pans may be purchased that are at least as good. While at the restaurant supply store, also purchase a large non-stick sauté pan.
Colander Select a colander that will allow the water to drain quickly, but not allow any pasta to slip through. Usually cheap plastic colanders work best.
Pasta Machine A pasta machine that makes 6-inch wide sheets will cost you less than $50 and typically includes a couple cutting attachments. It will pay for itself in no time. Fresh pasta at the grocery store costs around $3.00. The same amount of pasta can be made at home for less than 50 cents. Eat fresh pasta every other week, and the machine will pay for itself in less than a year. If fresh pasta will be made often and only by machine, spend more and purchase a higher quality pasta machine that makes wider sheets of pasta. The wider sheets are easier to work with when making filled pastas. Commercial stainless steel models that roll out 9-inch wide sheets cost around $500. This is expensive, but the pasta machine may be passed down to your grandchildren. I use a cheap model that makes 6-inch wide pasta. I am using the high cost of the commercial pasta machines as incentive to learn how to roll large sheets of pasta by hand.
OR
Rolling Pin A solid piece of hardwood without handles is usually used to roll pasta by hand.

Recommended, but not necessary

Large non stick sauté pan Use this to finish cooking your pasta in its sauce. Alternatively pour the sauce onto the pasta. I purchased a sauté pan with a ceramic non-stick coating at a restaurant supply store.
Sharp Knife If making pasta by hand, a knife will be needed to cut the pasta into noodles. If using a pasta machine, a knife can be used to cut pasta into shapes other than that available with the machine's cutting attachments.
Pastry Wheel Used to give pasta a fancy edge. I use one when I make ravioli. A pizza cutter or a knife could be used instead.

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