Abstract: A device for making and dispensing pasta comprises: a pressure cooking vessel; and a ball valve assembly comprising: i) a valve body coupled to a top opening of the vessel, and ii) a rotatable ball securely located within the valve body and rotatable between an open position and a closed position, the ball having a bore, wherein in the open position the bore provides access to the top opening of the vessel, and in the closed position the ball hermetically seals the top opening. The device also includes a means for dropping pasta through the bore and into the vessel; a means for rotating the ball to the closed position; a means for heating the interior volume of the vessel to cook the pasta; and a means for providing egress of the pasta from the device after the vessel has cooked the pasta.

Abstract: A device for making and dispensing pasta comprises: a pressure cooking vessel; and a ball valve assembly comprising: i) a valve body coupled to a top opening of the vessel, and ii) a rotatable ball securely located within the valve body and rotatable between an open position and a closed position, the ball having a bore, wherein in the open position the bore provides access to the top opening of the vessel, and in the closed position the ball hermetically seals the top opening. The device also includes a means for dropping pasta through the bore and into the vessel; a means for rotating the ball to the closed position; a means for heating the interior volume of the vessel to cook the pasta; and a means for providing egress of the pasta from the device after the vessel has cooked the pasta.