KitchenAid Stand Mixer Attachment, KSMPRA 3-Piece Pasta Roller & Cutter Set

Ah, pasta – the culinary equivalent of a warm hug from Nonna, a symphony of flavors that transports you to the cobblestone streets of Rome with every twirl of the fork. And what better way to channel your inner Italian chef than with KitchenAid's Pasta Roller & Cutter attachment? This masterpiece of kitchen engineering is like having a pasta-making Nonna in your very own kitchen – complete with a few quirks and plenty of love.Let's start with the basics, shall we? This attachment is like the Ferrari of pasta makers – sleek, stylish, and built to last. Made from heavy-duty materials that could withstand a Vespa rally through the streets of Napoli, it's as durable as it is dependable. Plus, the rollers and cutters work like a dream, effortlessly transforming a lump of dough into a symphony of spaghetti, fettuccine, or whatever pasta shape your heart desires.But beware, my fellow pasta aficionados, for even the mightiest of pasta attachments have their quirks. The cleaning process is like a culinary obstacle course, with nooks and crannies that are harder to navigate than a Venetian canal during high tide. It's enough to make you question whether the joy of homemade pasta is worth the hassle of scrubbing dough remnants from every crevice – but fear not, brave chefs, for the end result is always worth the effort.Now, let's talk about the real magic of this pasta attachment – the endless possibilities it brings to your kitchen. From classic spaghetti and meatballs to decadent fettuccine Alfredo, the only limit is your imagination (and perhaps your waistline). And let's not forget the satisfaction that comes from knowing you've created something truly special – a labor of love that's as comforting as a bowl of Nonna's homemade minestrone.In conclusion, KitchenAid's Pasta Roller & Cutter attachment is a must-have for any pasta lover's kitchen. With its heavy-duty construction, flawless performance, and Italian-inspired charm, it's like a culinary love letter to the art of pasta making. So grab your apron, dust off your rolling pin, and prepare to embark on a gastronomic journey that's as delightful as a gondola ride through the canals of Venice – because when it comes to homemade pasta, the only limit is your appetite!Pros:Heavy-duty construction ensures durability and longevityRollers and cutters work flawlessly to create perfect pasta every timeEndless pasta-making possibilities bring Italian-inspired joy to your kitchenCons:Cleaning process can be a bit challenging, requiring extra effort and attention to detail

When I first got this set, I got cold feet about actually using it. The promotional video makes it look so easy, and I suddenly doubted it could be that easy. While probably some of the more elaborate KitchenAid attachments don't work as well as the original standalone items they're designed to replace, I'm happy to say that the pasta roller and cutter set is a beautifully simple extension of the stand mixer, that takes all the sweat out of a formerly laborious task, turning a chore into a pleasure.I've tried various pasta recipes and was successful each time. If the dough reaches the proper consistency to go through a manual machine, it will go through this one. Even the gluten-free recipe I made for a friend, which had a scary thick playdough-like texture while it was being kneaded, went through both roller and cutter without a hitch and gave me beautiful vegetable-colored fettucine. It just worked like a charm.Prepping the dough properly is key, just as it would be with a manual machine. Use the right proportions of water and flour, knead the dough until it's tacky and smooth (not sticky), and form an evenly thick, evenly shaped dough square before putting it in. Then, and this is the biggest necessity, FLOUR IT WELL and don't skip re-flouring as needed so it doesn't stick. You don't need to push the dough through the machine; just gently guide your well-floured dough into contact with the roller bars, and it will glide in and through.The first time I used the cutters, I felt like a kid seeing a magic trick for the first time. After spending some minutes rolling out the dough, suddenly I had handfuls of perfect spaghetti and fettucine. I filled up my drying rack very quickly and it couldn't have been easier.The great thing about using this set is that you have BOTH hands free to handle the dough! No turning the crank with your right and trying to control your lengthening dough strip with the left. If you have a KitchenAid stand mixer, there is really no reason to use a hand crank for pasta. Having this set is another reason now to keep my mixer on the counter - it gets used so often.I also use the roller by itself for rolling out wafer-thin crackers. If you like to make crackers, you know that the hard part is getting the dough thin and even enough so they bake up crispy and are done evenly. I had lots of batches I wasn't satisfied with, even though I'm used to rolling out cookie dough with precision. The first time I tried the pasta roller for crackers, they were good enough to serve to company! Just for this, I can't recommend it highly enough. If you make crackers and aren't interested in making pasta, you can also buy just the pasta roller by itself (for less than half the price of the roller/cutter set) and get a huge amount of use out of it. But once crackers become so easy, you you might just find that you get interested in pasta too.

My days (and I do mean full days 😁) of rolling and cutting pasta on the board, by hand are now officially over. I finally decided enough is enough. I could no longer look at my Stand Mixer any longer and ignore the fact that my life would be made so much easier with these attachments. I make a lot of pasta.What a good decision I made buying this set. Worth every dollar I spent. Pasta making is now less a chore and more of a pleasure. I have discovered the Zen of pasta making.The build on these attachments is solid and heavy. No cheap aluminum or lightweight plastics. Steel baby steel. With proper use, these should outlast many Stand Mixer upgrades for years to come.Pasta is great every time. Uniformity is a good thing with pasta and I have it now. Sometimes doing it by hand the results are less consistent. Operation and cleanup couldn't be easier.If I'm not careful, I'm going to become a Kitchenaid Mixer Attachment junkie. I'm already eyeing my next purchase. 😁