The Iconic Compact Pasta Maker That Made Our Best List Is on Sale Right Now
I am a pasta fanatic. I could probably eat it every day of the week — and I nearly did in college. It’s fast, easy, and delicious, and a pasta dish can even be pretty healthy if you prepare it right. (Contributing editor Sheela suggests tricks like using ground turkey instead of ground beef for sauce and trying out whole wheat pasta, just to name a few.)
But even though I’m a huge fan of all of its variations, I’ve never actually made pasta from scratch. I’ve never owned the right equipment, and the main reason why I loved pasta so much while I was in school was because it took hardly any time out of my day to whip some up. But since I started spending more time in the kitchen as a post-grad — and now that I’ve heard Kitchn editors sing the praises of the experience — I’m totally convinced that I need to try it for myself. And now that this Best List-winning mini pasta maker is on sale, I think it might be a sign. I’m totally convinced that I need to splurge on the Philips Compact Pasta Maker, and once I give you all the details, I’m sure you will be, too.
What is the Philips Compact Pasta Maker for Two?
Spaghetti, penne, and fettuccine are all fair game with this nifty, Nespresso-sized machine, after you prepare the enough dough. Just follow the included instructions and place the right proportions of flour, water, and eggs into the mixing chamber, pick the pasta disc of the shape you want, and you’re ready to go. “The machine then automatically kneads the dough, extruding two to three servings of pasta in just 18 minutes,” contributor Vanessa wrote. “Doing that by hand can sometimes take up to an hour when you factor in mixing, kneading, resting, rolling, and cutting!”
Another pro? “You also have the flexibility to experiment with exciting flavors by adding herbs or veggies,” Vanessa said, noting that you’ll also receive the recipes for over a dozen types of dough and 10 dishes. “Plus, unlike other pasta makers and attachments, the Philips model uses the extruding technique, which forces the pasta through metal discs, giving it a shaggy, sauce-grabbing edge. This is especially great if you like using the starchy water from boiled pasta to thicken your sauces.” To top it all of, cleaning is a breeze, since you can take it apart and put the pieces in the dishwasher.
What Williams Sonoma Reviewers are Saying
Average Rating: 4.3/5
“This machine makes pasta in a breeze. I set it up and prepare the pasta while I wait for the water to boil, this is how easy and fast it is! It is the perfect size for a family of 3-4, otherwise you have to make two batches. It is easy to clean and most parts are dishwasher safe.” – Baker73
“This pasta maker is very easy to use…straight out of the box (after washing of course). There is virtually no assembly, the instructions are very easy to follow, the construction is solid and it’s convenient to add pasta dies in addition to those that come with the machine.” – Practical Homesteader
“This is the best machine to make pasta. If you follow the directions carefully and use what they say it comes out perfect. I give this machine five stars because I have not had one bad batch by following the recipe.” – Jancy
This pasta maker is so efficient and easy to use that it’s 100% worth splurging on — consider it a holiday gift to yourself. Make sure to snag it while it’s $30 off!
Buy: Philips Compact Pasta Maker for Two, $149.75 (normally $179.95)