How To Care for Your Rolling Pin

Being the baking lover I am, a wooden rolling pin is an important item in my kitchen. I’ve been using the same rolling pin since I left home. I’ve taken care of it over the years, which is not hard to do and the reason it has lasted so long. Lately, I’ve added an embossed rolling pin to my arsenal of kitchen tools, so I thought it was time to share how to care for your rolling pin.

You want that baby to last for another generation of bakers!

Kinds of Rolling Pins

Rolling pins can be made of many materials but in the farm kitchen, I use only a wooden rolling pin.

There are three main types of rolling pins: tapered rolling pins, straight (cylindrical) rolling pins, and rolling pins with handles. Tapered rolling pins are considered to be the best choice for rolling out pastry and yeasted doughs. Straight rolling pins allow you to apply even pressure on whatever you’re rolling out. They’re a great choice for cookie dough or other items that you need even thickness. Rolling pins with handles tend to be straight rolling pins. They are easy to grip but can be more difficult to apply pressure with when it comes to rolling out a thick dough.

I personally prefer a rolling pin with handles. They’re hard to beat when it comes to grip comfort and will be similar to a straight rolling pin without handles. An embossed rolling pin is perfect for taking your firm dough cookies to the next level or pretty. I use mine mostly on shortbread or sugar cookies but this Christmas I also used it on gingerbread men I had on the Christmas table.

How to Season a Wooden Rolling Pin

Seasoning a new rolling pin is done for the same reason you season a cast iron pan. You do it so the food won’t stick when you use it and so it will stay in good condition for a long time. The best tip here is: DO NOT use vegetable or olive oil to season a wooden rolling pin. These oils can turn stale (rancid). This can add unwanted flavors to your baking. Also, avoid using other oils that are not certified as food-grade.

I use coconut oil to season my rolling pin. The process is easy. Just scoop a spoonful from the jar and massage it into your rolling pin. With an embossed rolling pin you will need to make sure you get it in all the crevices. Other rolling pins are more straightforward. Once you have rubbed the coconut oil in, leave it to penetrate the wood. If there is any excess you can wipe it off.

How to Clean a Wooden Rolling Pin

After using your rolling pin, use a dry kitchen brush to get any dough out of the crevices. If it needs further cleaning you can wash it in hot water. Don’t use soap or detergent. This can strip the oils out of the wood. And definitely never allow your rolling pin to sit in water for any amount of time. This will cause the wood to swell, and possibly crack once it’s dried out.

A big no no is putting the rolling pin in the dishwasher. That’s a surefire way to ruin it!

If you care for your embossed rolling pin you’ll have gorgeous cookies for years to come.