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Weigh the Flour & Measure the Eggs
Be warned: your first few attempts won't be so great.
UPDATE 1/25/14
I have extensive experience now with both the extruder and the rollers/cutters. Hands down, this makes pasta faster. However, it requires carefully following the recipe.
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According to the recipe, you should have fresh pasta extruded in the time it takes to boil water. Last night, after 5 previous attempts, I made my first successful batch ready in time for the boiling water. The other batches were fine, but last night was the first time the process went quickly.
Here's my advice: Weigh your flour and carefully measure your eggs. 1 cup sifted flour weighs 112 grams. The eggs need to measure 7/8 cup. Once I had those exact proportions, the process went fantastic.
I love this attachment. It requires less time and kneading than roller pasta. Plus, it's as fun as playing with play dough. Remember it's a science and an art. It's a science because you MUST use exact measurements. It's an art because it's delicious. :)
The downside for me is that the pasta shapes get large and bloated after boiling. I want my pasta shapes to stay small. But big is alright, just different from what I'm used to. (See comments below for tips on bloating.)
September 2010 · Home and Kitchen