As a ramen business owner at The Story of Ramen, I’m always experimenting to find the best ways to enhance the noodle-making experience. My business partner, Jeff Parsons, and I recently decided to have a friendly time-trial competition to see how different pasta rollers stack up: the tried-and-true hand-crank versus the powerful KitchenAid stand mixer with its pasta roller and cutter attachments. The results? Surprisingly close!
The Competition
In our race, I used the humble hand-crank roller while Jeff, armed with the KitchenAid set, tackled his noodles with a motorized edge. Rolling and cutting ramen noodles typically takes time and patience, so we were curious to see just how much the tools affected our speeds.
Here’s the breakdown:
Hand-Crank Time (Me): 2 minutes, 17 seconds
KitchenAid Time (Jeff): 1 minute, 49 seconds
While the KitchenAid took the lead, the time difference wasn’t staggering. In fact, it showed that hand-cranking is still a viable option, especially for ramen enthusiasts looking to save on costs and storage space.
Cost Comparison
Investing in a KitchenAid setup is no small decision. At $550 for the stand mixer ($400) and attachments ($150), it’s definitely an investment. Compare this to the hand-crank roller, which costs only $36 on Amazon (see this link for the unit that we used: https://amzn.to/3NJnFTM), and it’s clear why many home cooks opt for the more affordable option.
Practical Considerations: Storage, Ease of Use, and Stability
The hand-crank roller, while a bit clunky, wins points for storage. It’s easy to tuck away in a cabinet or drawer without taking up too much space, making it a great option for small kitchens or people just getting into noodle-making. However, the design does have one significant downside: during the rolling process, the handle has a tendency to fall off, as it can’t be fully tightened to the roller. This issue can disrupt your rhythm (and patience), especially when working with delicate dough. The KitchenAid, on the other hand, doesn’t have this problem, and the motorized attachment stays securely in place.
Final Verdict
For those making noodles occasionally, the hand-crank roller provides a great experience without the hefty price tag. But if speed, convenience, and a motorized helper matter more (and you’ve got the countertop real estate), the KitchenAid option could be a worthwhile splurge.
In the end, the choice depends on personal priorities: are you seeking speed and efficiency or simplicity and savings? Our competition proved that both options have their place in the world of noodle-making, and there’s no wrong answer – just good ramen.
Want to master the skills in making ramen noodles? Join our Ramen Making Party in San Francisco here: https://www.ramenpartysf.com/ramen-making-party
 | Manville Chan is the Founder and Chief Experience Officer at The Story of Ramen. |
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