Use a Paper Shredder as a Pasta Machine
Believe it or not, the first manufactured paper shredder design was inspired by a hand-crank pasta maker. Even though shredders have come a long way, they can still be used to perform the same function as their pasta-making cousin. If you've got an old, non-used shredder lying around or you've got top-secret, incriminating information printed on a pasta sheet, it might be fun to explore the multi-functionality of your shredder and get some linguine out of it at the same time.
Please note that paper shredders contain toxic industrial lubricants, thus any pasta made this way should not be consumed. These instructions should be used for entertainment rather than actually making food to be consumed.
Steps
- Get a heavy duty shredder that can chew through CDs and credit cards as easily as paper.
- Clean your shredder. Even if it's new, you have no idea how long it sat gathering dust (or worse) at a store. Also, you'll want to clean thoroughly to remove any ink residues if your shredder performed its intended function in the past. However, an unused shredder is preferable. See Warnings below.
- Remove the paper-catching bin below it. You'll want room to work with your pasta. To do so, disable the receptacle sensor so the machine still functions. You can do this with duct tape. To do so, use a lubricant such as 10-40 or liquid bleach. If you have a shredder that is supported by the receptacle, you'll need to prop it up with something else (e.g. thick books, soup cans, etc.).
- Turn the machine on. As the mechanism churns, coat it with nonstick cooking oil (see Warning).
- Run pasta through. Your sheet of dough should be no wider than the paper feed and no thicker than a stack of paper you'd put through the shredder. The length is up to you.
- Catch the noodles. Do this as they come out, so they don't pile up and stick to themselves.
Tips
- Follow the same cautions you would with a standard pasta grinder.
- This method was made popular by kitchen hacker and Food Network chef Alton Brown.
- Don't use a "crosscut" or high-security style shredder, as this will not provide you with strips of pasta. It will instead make little tiny scraps and will most likely just get clogged with dough.
- It also works well for turning cabbage into coleslaw and tortillas into strips for taco salad.
- Some think industrial lubricants used in paper shredders are poisonous, so be sure to clean the paper shredder blades thoroughly before using it for this purpose, or don't do it at all.
Warnings
- If you clean your shredder with a liquid (such as water or alcohol), make sure it is dry before plugging it in to avoid electrical shock. Avoid getting liquid into the motor housing.
- The shredder instructions warn against using aerosols as the propellant may ignite. Be careful!
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Sources and Citations
- Wired Magazine - Original source of this article. Shared with permission.
