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How to Use a Pasta Machine to Make Homemade Pasta

By Jessica Harlan, About.com

3 of 10

Knead the Dough

Kneading the dough.

©2008 Jessica Harlan licensed to About.com, Inc.

Scrape all of the dough together into a ball and begin kneading it, spreading a little of the extra flour over the work surface if the dough begins to stick. Knead the dough by pressing firmly into it with the heel of your hand, folding the dough over towards you, giving it a quarter turn, and repeating the pressing and folding motion. Continue kneading for 3 to 4 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. Wrap the ball of dough in plastic and let rest 20 minutes on the countertop.

In the meantime, put a pot of water on the stove to boil, since you'll want to cook the pasta soon after you've made it; otherwise it will dry out.

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