Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Pasta Boards

A pasta board is a large wooden surface designed to prepare homemade pasta on. In Italy, it goes by the name of spianatoia and is commonly found in the homes of pasta makers. It’s similar to a pastry board, although pasta boards tends to be made exclusively of wood while pastry board can use other materials such as marble.

Although it is possible to prepare homemade pasta on a variety of surfaces, wood is best. For this reason, most pasta boards are made of wood. In Italy, pasta boards are typically made out of locally-sourced beechwood, while in North America, maple is more common. Other woods that are suitable for pasta boards include cherry and walnut. In general, you want to find a board that is made out of a durable, uncoated hardwood.

There are several practical reasons why you want your pasta-making board to be made out of wood: 

1. Wood imparts a porous texture onto your pasta, which ultimately leads to better sauce absorption.
2. Wood maintains a neutral temperature, an important factor for your pasta dough, which doesn’t like to be too hot or too cold.
3. Wood provides traction. This is helpful when you’re trying to knead your pasta dough.

Smooth surfaces made of metal, granite, or marble will be too cold and may cause your dough to slip and slide.

Other things to consider when sourcing a board for pasta making are:

• Does it have an edge or a lip to rest on the counter?
• If rolling out pasta dough by hand: does anything interfere with rolling, such as a lip or an edge?
• Will it fit on your counter or table?
• Do you like the way the wood looks?

We get this question a lot and our answer is always the same: no, you don’t absolutely need one, especially if you are new to pasta making. You can mix and knead pasta dough in a bowl, in a food processor, in a stand mixer, or on any other clean wooden work surface.

However there are significant benefits to having a pasta board, including:

• Your pasta board is a clean wooden surface, free from smells and odors that you might find on cutting boards used for other preparations.
• It’s a dedicated work space and gives you more room to do your pasta making than most average cutting boards.
• A wooden pasta board is really the only way to roll out pasta with a rolling pin!
• If you enjoy mixing and kneading your dough by hand, using a wooden pasta board is the best way to feel and work the dough.

Unlike a wooden cutting board, a board for pasta making don't require as much maintenance. That's because if you use it regularly and store it properly, it should stay well-hydrated!

The q.b. Cucina Reversible Wooden Pasta Board

Although having a pasta board isn't required to make great pasta, it can be a helpful tool to have in the kitchen. When sourcing a board, be sure to consider the type of wood used, dimensions, and quality. Ultimately, pasta makers who roll out dough on the reg will find that investing in a durable, well-made board is a worthwhile endeavor!