Pasta machine help, please!

[katmann]

So I just got a pasta machine, and tried it out tonight. I made 1/2 AP flour and 1/2 whole wheat flour fettuccine, but I think I rolled the pasta too thin for fettuccine. There were no indications in the instructions or my recipe book as to the proper thickness for different types of pasta. And, the cutter didn't cut all the way through the pasta, so I had to separate the strands by hand, which makes me think my sheets weren't thick enough.

It turned out well, but my sheets stuck together while drying (I guess I need a rack or something) and it was hard to tell how much a recipe for 1 lb pasta was going to make (answer: way too much for me and DH, even with a wee eater helping).

For those of you with the knack, I'd love some tips!

[cristeen]

With my machine, I know that I have to stop rolling at the next to last thickness for a good solid pasta, otherwise it is a bit too thin/flimsy. The cutter not cutting all the way through is worrisome, it should be working. Try letting your pasta sheet dry 10 minutes before cutting, see if that helps a bit. It could just be too wet to cut properly.

For the excess pasta, I lay them out on a floured board and allow them to dry half an hour or so. Gather them up into bunches, shake off the excess flour, and form them into nests. Pop them into the freezer and bag once solid. I usually make each nest about the right size for 1 person, so it's easy to just grab what I need.

But yes, starting with about 3 c of flour, I can make enough pasta to feed 4 adults and still have leftovers. But since it freezes decently (drop it frozen into the boiling water), leftovers don't bother me.

Also, I tend to make ravioli when I do pasta - so after sheeting I stuff it. Then whatever's left after I've run out of stuffing gets cut for fettucine. Kills 2 birds with 1 stone.

[katmann]

Originally Posted by cristeen

With my machine, I know that I have to stop rolling at the next to last thickness for a good solid pasta, otherwise it is a bit too thin/flimsy. The cutter not cutting all the way through is worrisome, it should be working. Try letting your pasta sheet dry 10 minutes before cutting, see if that helps a bit. It could just be too wet to cut properly.

It seemed like the ends of the sheets got hard and crispy when I let them dry, and they wouldn't feed into the cutter. So I cut off the dry ends and fed the wetter part through. It didn't stick or anything, though, so I didn't think it was too wet. But I'll try to let it dry more next time. Thanks for the tips on leftovers!