How to Roll Out Pasta Dough by Hand

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Buon appetito! You don’t need a pasta machine to enjoy tasty homemade pasta. It’s fairly easy to roll out your own dough with a rolling pin, and you might get a good arm workout in the process. To prevent sticking, be sure to knead and roll out the dough on a floured surface!

Part 1
Part 1 of 4:

Portioning

PDF download Download Article
  1. Use your hands to lightly dust anywhere your dough may touch. Pasta dough is super sticky, so keep a container of flour handy. You’ll need it throughout the entire roll out process. [1]
    • Don’t worry about wiping the flour off your hands afterward—it will make it easier to handle the dough.
    • Rolling out dough can be a bit messy! Choose a spacious work surface where you can make a mess. [2]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Out Pasta Dough by Hand
    Use a long knife to slice through the dough. Try to make the portions relatively even, but don’t stress too much about it. [3]
    • If you make dough a lot, consider buying a bench scraper. It makes portioning out dough super easy and quick. [4]
    • Remember to keep the dough on the floured surface the entire time so it doesn't stick.
    Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Out Pasta Dough by Hand
    Use your hands to ball up 1 portion, then place it on your countertop. Place your palm over the dough and gently roll it over the surface of the counter. Do this for each of the portions.
    • If the dough sticks to your hands, dust your hands with flour again.
  4. Set it in the center of your counter top so you have plenty of room to work. Only roll out 1 portion of dough at a time.
    • Place the extra balls of dough in a bowl that you’ve wiped down with olive oil. Cover the dough balls with plastic wrap or a towel until you’re ready to use them.
    5. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 4:

Stretching into Sheets

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Out Pasta Dough by Hand
    Stretch the dough into an oval. Make 1 to 2 passes with your rolling pin before you turn the dough.
    • If you don't have a rolling pin, try improvising with a washed wine bottle or large drinking glass.
    • You might encounter some resistance when you first start rolling out the dough. Keep at it—it gets easier.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Out Pasta Dough by Hand
    Pick your dough up off the counter top and rotate it in either direction. Keep rotating the dough so it thins out evenly.
    • Lift the dough after each pass with your rolling pin so it doesn’t stick to the work surface. [5]
    • If the dough starts to stick, dust the counter top and your rolling pin with more flour. If you're working in a humid space, that may be causing the stickiness. [6]
    • If your pasta does end up sticking to itself, that's okay! Just ball it back up and start over. [7]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Out Pasta Dough by Hand
    Keep rolling out the dough until it reaches your desired thickness. Check it by sliding your hand underneath the pasta. When it’s thin enough, you’ll be able to see your hand.
    • For thick pastas, like lasagna noodles, stop at 1 ⁄ 16  in (0.16 cm) thick. [8]
    • If you're making linguine and fettuccine, aim for 1 ⁄ 32  in (0.079 cm) thick. For angel hair or stuffed pastas, go even thinner! These need to be as thin as possible. [9]
    • It’s perfectly okay to eyeball it and estimate the thinness.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Out Pasta Dough by Hand
    Cut away any excess dough so that the rolled out dough looks like a clean rectangle. This makes your pasta pieces look more uniform. [10]
    • It’s okay to skip this step if you don’t care if your finished pasta pieces are all the same length.
    • Either discard the extra dough or incorporate it into another dough ball.
  5. Set a timer and leave your dough to sit out on the counter top or a baking sheet covered in flour. It will start to dry out a bit but won’t get hard.
    • This firms up your pasta so it’ll hold its shape after you cut it.
    6. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 4:

Cutting the Pasta

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Out Pasta Dough by Hand
    Your dough is still sticky, so use your hands to lightly dust both sides of it with flour. Otherwise, the pasta may stick to itself when you fold it up, undoing all the hard work you did rolling it out. [11]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Out Pasta Dough by Hand
    Pick up the edge of the dough and make a fold about 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) from the edge. Then, make another fold. Keep folding the dough until it’s all folded up. [12]
    • Folding your dough makes it easier to cut it into uniform pieces of pasta.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Out Pasta Dough by Hand
    Estimate the size of your noodles and make even cuts. Set aside your cut pieces so you can roll them out later. How big you slice the pieces depends on what type of pasta you’re making. Use these measurements as a guide:
    • 1 ⁄ 8  in (0.32 cm) to make linguine. [13]
    • 1 ⁄ 6  in (0.42 cm) for fettuccine. [14]
    • 1 cm (0.39 in) for tagliatelle. [15]
    • 2 cm (0.79 in) to make pappardelle. [16]
    • 4 in (10 cm) for lasagna.
    • Feel free to use a pizza cutter instead of a knife. It might speed things up a bit! [17]
    4. Advertisement
Part 4
Part 4 of 4:

Drying and Storage

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Out Pasta Dough by Hand
    Shake out each piece of pasta and lay it on a clean baking sheet or foil-covered countertop. Then, sprinkle more flour over the pasta to help dry it out. Set a timer and leave the pasta to dry. [18]
    • Drying your pasta for a few minutes improves the taste and texture of your pasta after you cook it.
    • For shaped pasta, like tortellini, be sure to keep the tray and individual pasta pieces well-floured so they don't stick to each other. [19]
  2. You don’t have to cook your homemade pasta right away, but it needs to be very dry before you store it. Leave your pasta laying out to dry for at least 3 hours if you plan to use it later. Feel the pasta to make sure it feels stiff and brittle before you transfer it into a container.
    • Be very careful when handling your pasta after it dries, as it will be fragile.
  3. Place your pasta in a tall, sealed container. If you don’t have a big enough container, use a plastic storage bag that has a zipper. Keep your pasta in your pantry until you’re ready to use it.
    • Pasta usually keeps for several months. If you notice any mold or a foul smell, don’t eat it.
    4. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Read Video Transcript

      Things You’ll Need

      • Mixing bowl
      • Clean hand towel or plastic wrap
      • Olive oil
      • Flour
      • Flat work surface
      • Rolling pin
      • Knife
      • Airtight storage container (optional)

      Tips

      • Keep extra flour near your work surface because you’ll be using it often. Without flour, your pasta will stick to your work surface, your rolling pin, your hands, and itself.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
      • Expect the roll out process to take about an hour.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Measure Dry Pasta
      How to
      Cook Pasta
      How to
      Make Maggi
      How to
      Boil Lasagna Noodles
      How to
      Eat Noodles with Chopsticks
      How to
      Keep Pasta Warm
      How to
      Make Yippee Noodles
      How to
      Cook Noodles
      How to
      Use a Pasta Machine
      Make Easy & Delicious Pasta from Scratch—With or Without the Use of a Pasta Maker
      How to
      Thicken a Casserole
      How to
      Cook Ravioli
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.recipetips.com/kitchen-tips/t--793/cutting-and-shaping-pasta-by-hand.asp
      2. ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/2015/01/best-easy-all-purpose-fresh-pasta-dough-recipe-instructions.html
      3. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-fresh-pasta-from-scratch-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-73435
      4. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/handy-kitchen-tool-the-bench-s-45469
      5. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-fresh-pasta-from-scratch-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-73435
      6. ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/2015/01/best-easy-all-purpose-fresh-pasta-dough-recipe-instructions.html
      7. ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/2015/01/best-easy-all-purpose-fresh-pasta-dough-recipe-instructions.html
      8. ↑ https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021028-handmade-lasagna-sheets
      9. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-fresh-pasta-from-scratch-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-73435
      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXdl4fuF9zg&feature=youtu.be&t=69
      2. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-fresh-pasta-from-scratch-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-73435
      3. ↑ https://www.recipetips.com/kitchen-tips/t--793/cutting-and-shaping-pasta-by-hand.asp
      4. ↑ https://www.recipetips.com/kitchen-tips/t--793/cutting-and-shaping-pasta-by-hand.asp
      5. ↑ https://www.recipetips.com/kitchen-tips/t--793/cutting-and-shaping-pasta-by-hand.asp
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXdl4fuF9zg&feature=youtu.be&t=103
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXdl4fuF9zg&feature=youtu.be&t=91
      8. ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/2015/01/best-easy-all-purpose-fresh-pasta-dough-recipe-instructions.html
      9. ↑ https://www.recipetips.com/kitchen-tips/t--793/cutting-and-shaping-pasta-by-hand.asp
      10. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-homemade-tortellini-from-scratch-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-188288

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To roll out pasta dough without a machine, you’ll need a flat surface, a rolling pin, and a sharp knife. Sprinkle flour on your work surface before you start, then divide the dough into 4 smaller pieces so it’s easier to work with. Form each portion into a ball, then roll a ball out with a rolling pin, using firm pressure and rolling away from your body. Turn the ball 90 degrees after each pass with the rolling pin. Once the dough is about one sixteenth of an inch thick, trim it into a rectangle with a sharp knife. Repeat this process with the other sections. Let the sheets of dough dry for about 20 minutes, then sprinkle on a little more flour to prevent sticking. Fold each rectangle over lengthwise and cut it into strips with a sharp knife. Keep reading to learn how to dry and store your fresh pasta!

      Did this summary help you?
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 53,885 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement