The Best Pasta & Pizza Tools

You don’t have to rely on restaurants to get delicious pasta and pizza. All you need is the right tools and a good recipe, and you’ll have mouth-watering meals you can make any time.

For delicious pasta at home, you need only flour, eggs, olive oil and salt. You’ll have to set aside some counter space to roll out and knead your dough once you’ve mixed all the ingredients together. A small area should do, depending on what you’re making.

Kneading is an important part of the process. It can take up to 10 minutes to get that cohesive consistency. You can use extra flour and water to adjust the mixture if it gets too dry or too wet.

But putting the dough together is only the first step. You’ll then need a way to create just the shape you need. This is where the right pizza and pasta tools come in. Whether you’re making pizza crust, spaghetti, ravioli or another yummy creation, there are multiple options for cutting and shaping your dough.

First, there are dough rollers. Whether you’re making pizza crust or dumplings, flattening the dough is an important part of the process. Traditionally, home chefs used a rolling pin that only came in one size. Today, though, you can buy rolling pins in a variety of sizes, including some that are two-sided for extra convenience.

For those who love noodles, a pasta roller can be an often-used tool. Today’s pasta makers let you adjust the thickness of your noodles with just the turn of a dial. Make sure you look for one that can be easily stored and cleaned after each use and pay close attention to whether the blades are sharp enough to make clean cuts.

You’ll also need a tool for slicing your pizza when it comes out of the oven. You can eliminate the handle with today’s pizza cutters, indulging in a disc-shaped tool that will save space when you aren’t using it. Make sure you choose one with a sharp blade that will make clean, efficient cuts.

• Blades are the most essential feature in any pasta cutter. Whether it’s a pizza slicer or a pasta machine, things can get messy if your blades aren’t sharp enough. It can be tough to sharpen blades on some devices, including pasta makers, unless they can be disassembled.
• Cleaning some pasta tools can be tricky. Some pasta makers come apart to let you clean each piece separately. If you have a pizza stone, you can’t use dish soap. Warm water, combined with a tool specifically designed for baking stones, can help with cleanup between uses.
• Pizza stones can crack if they heat up too quickly. You’ll need to set the stone in the oven before turning it on and let it gradually warm up as your oven does.
• As useful as sharp blades are, they can be dangerous. Take care when using them, but also make sure you store them in a location where someone won’t accidentally be cut when searching drawers for a utensil or spatula.
• Some pasta tools can be used for other types of cooking. A small dough roller is great for making small items like cookies, while a larger size can be used for pie crusts. You can also use baking stones for making cookies and muffins.
• If you’re buying a metal baking sheet for your pizzas, pay attention to measurements. You’ll find smaller pans limit the size of the pizzas you can make.
• If you aren’t a fan of washing your cookware by handing, look for pizza pans and utensils that are dishwasher safe. In some cases, even dishwasher-safe kitchen tools will last longer if you wash them by hand.
• Storage is an important consideration for kitchen tools. Larger items like pasta makers can consume significant space, so make sure you have a plan for storing them between uses if you don’t plan to keep them on your counter.