On paper, there are two types of pasta chefs: one wants to make fresh pasta for the first time, while the other is a seasoned sfoglina wondering why their latest batch of fettuccine didn’t turn out as expected. While they might see themselves to be at different stages in their pasta making journeys, both cooks are in fact united by a very common denominator: the dreaded thought of having to scrape those pesky flecks of egg and flour residue off of an otherwise spotless pasta machine. If you want to truly embrace the Italian spirit and make fresh pasta often, you’re going to have to keep up with cleaning your kit.
Before you start, it’s important to bear in mind the following wisdom from our very own pasta aficionado, Chef Roberta:
- Don’t run your pasta machine under water or use a wet cloth to clean inside it
- Don’t clean it with any harsh chemicals
- Don’t put it in the dishwasher
Andiamo, let’s get started.
Step 1: Detach any removable pieces
If you have a manual pasta machine, it will have a clamp and a hand crank. Be sure to remove both of these before you clean the rest. From here, it is much easier to clean the areas covered in flour and dried pasta dough.
Step 2: Make use of polymer clay
If you don’t have polymer clay to hand, this step isn’t essential but it is extremely effective for picking up bits of dried dough off of the pasta machine. Shape your clay into a small ball and roll over the outside of your kit, ensuring to manoeuver over the dough remnants. They will stick to the clay and easily be removed from the machine.
Step 3: Use a brush for the inside
Once you have cleaned the larger areas of the machine, it is important to brush in all of the nooks and crannies (such as the rollers) to prevent your machine from getting stuck in the future.
Step 4: A final once over
Take a damp cloth and wipe this around the full exterior of the machine. Be sure to get any last bits of flour and lingering fingerprints!
Step 6: Dry it off
Although your machine will just be damp and not wet, it is still important that you dry it off to prevent damage in the long run. Using a soft towel, ensure to dry the whole surface area of the pasta machine.
Still sounds like too much? Why not buy one of our pasta making kits, complete with a gnocchi board. The more flour here, the better the pasta.
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