[LilacSandy]

I want to make some fresh pasta to go with the meatballs and tomato sauce for tonight's tea.  I want to use my new pasta machine but we are going to a parents evening tonight.

My question is can I make the pasta now and keep it till later tonight or will it go dry?  If I can keep it what is the best way to store.

[mumofstig]

It will dry out a bit but not as dry as packet stuff.
Drying info here 
http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-dry-pasta-without-a-rac-78742

[compostqueen]

I dried mine a bit as it's easier to use!     I hung mine on coat hangers around the kitchen 

Good luck.  Oh by the way, it takes only a short time to cook, eg a few minutes! 

[LilacSandy]

I did it, and it was lovely and soft and smooth.  I need to keep practising to get the consistency right as it had a tendency to stick together when I cut it, and it was a little thick but I do not think I would go back to dried. 

[compostqueen]

It's good innit!     I bought some gritty semolina to lay it on, to stop it sticking, and you have to keep dusting the machine with the pasta flour which helps stop the sticking. It cooks very fast doesn't it. It can catch you out 

[surbie100]

Cutting and making shapes can while away a boring winter evening too.. Not that I have done that very often, I'm too impatient so it usually ends up as tagliatelle, ravioli or spaghetti.

[snowdrops]

I did it, and it was lovely and soft and smooth.  I need to keep practising to get the consistency right as it had a tendency to stick together when I cut it, and it was a little thick but I do not think I would go back to dried. 

Dust with semolina flour(polenta) to stop it sticking,does your pasta machine have different numbers on the 'roller' if so just roll it through again & again,changing the number as you go.

[snowdrops]

Sorry Surbie,didn't see your reply.

[surbie100]

S'ok  - to be honest it didn't add anything to the conversation 

I am thinking of making farfalle and orecchiette from this 'how to' http://www.recipetips.com/kitchen-tips/t--793/cutting-and-shaping-pasta-by-hand.asp

As for storing, let the fresh cut pasta dry for a few minutes, dust with flour/semolina so it doesn't stick together and then bundle loosely into nests. Let them dry for about 30ish minutes and wrap and either put in the fridge for 2-3 days, or freeze for up to 2 weeks.

For storing as dried, let it dry for about 24 hours. If you can;t cut it with a knife, it's done!