What is the difference using plastic or bronze mould for pasta maker?
I want to understand the difference in using plastic or bronze mould for my Philips 200W pasta maker.
There is option to get a bronze or plastic mould for my machine. I have read the bronze will give more texture so that the pasta can absorb the sauce better.
I am wondering: is the difference so significant? When using a hand wound pasta machine I remember the pasta being good enough and taking on the sauce well enough. Further the bronze can only be cleaned by hand.
Best Answer
I don't know how robust the plastic mould for your machine will be, I have had issues with plastic parts breaking on Philips kitchen appliances (always outside of warranty, naturally), so I can't really comment on that. However, depending on the type of pasta you intend to extrude may have a bearing on your choice. The bronze dies were traditionally used for the harder "higher quality" durum semolina pasta that has much more "tooth bite", hence using metal rather than plastic due to the stresses involved. Nowadays, manufacturers use Teflon dies as they are cheaper, but this results in a smooth pasta.
If you are intending on making dense pasta such as penne or conchiglie, semolina flour and a bronze die would be a good choice. If you are looking to make a finer pasta such as vermicelli or spaghetti, the use of 00 flour and a plastic mould would probably be fine.
I would also consider the amount of use the pasta maker will be exposed to. If you are only occasionally going to be making fresh pasta, a brass mould is probably overkill. If you are going to be making penne regularly with semolina rather than 00 flour, the bronze die is probably a better long term investment.
https://www.epicurious.com/ingredients/what-is-bronze-cut-pasta-and-is-it-worth-it-article https://fabulouspasta.com/guide/best-pasta-flour/
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Why is bronze cut pasta better?
Bronze-cut pasta, also called bronze-die pasta, is extruded through dies\u2014perforated metal plates that cut and shape the pasta\u2014that are made of bronze. These bronze dies produce a finished noodle with a rough, porous texture. Bronze-cut pasta absorbs sauce effectively, improving the mouthfeel and flavor of pasta dishes.Is a pasta roller necessary?
It isn't necessary (or possible) to use a machine to shape some types of pasta. To make lovely little orecchiette or cavaletti the dough is rolled into a sausage and small pieces cut from it and squashed into shape, as you can see in the nice video on this pasta making blog post.What tools do you need to make fresh pasta?
What tools do you need to make ravioli?
Tools you'll need: a straight pasta cutter, fluted pastry roller or a square (or circular) ravioli cutter, rolling pin and pasta machine.I Bought The Cheapest Pasta Machine on Amazon (is it supposed to do this?)
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