Rolling Pins, Pastry Rollers and French Rolling Pins Online
The rolling pin is still one kitchen tool that technology has not done away with. Regardless of how you prepare and mix your doughs, whether it is by hand or by a stand mixer you still need a good rolling pin to roll it out once it's prepared.
Everten has the best selection of quality commercial, professional and home baker rolling pins. We stock high quality wooden rolling pins as well as marble rolling pins in a variety of styles and sizes to meet your baking needs.
What are rolling pins used for?
It's common to think that rolling pins are purely for rolling out baking dough, however, these tools can be used in multiple ways. You can use a rolling pin for the common tasks such as rolling pastry, pie dough or simple cookie dough for the kids. There are also fondant rolling pins that help cake-makers roll out fondant to decorate cakes.
You can also use rolling pins for crushing biscuits, crackers or nuts for making protein balls, cheesecake bases or simpler tasks like crushing ice or tenderising meat or flattening chicken fillets for making schnitzels.
What are French Rolling Pins?
Unlike traditional bakery rolling pins that use ball-bearings to reduce hand fatigue and spin the centre cylindrical barrel shape while holding static handles on the ends, a French rolling pin is very different in design.
French rolling pins tend to be a very simple, cylindrical wooden shape available in either a straight or tapered shape at the ends. Why these are sometimes preferred is that they allow for a bit more control than traditional American rolling pins, where the user can pivot or apply more or less pressure at different angles. You can feel what's happening with the dough as you apply pressure, making it easier to ensure consistency and equal thickness across the entire batter.
The tapered end shapes of some French rolling pins are favoured for those making pies or certain pastries where extra pressure can be applied to edges or circumferences of the dough allowing the pin to lift at an angle without applying pressure to the centres.
What types of materials are rolling pins made of?
While there are many different types of materials used in the construction of rolling pins the most common tend to be:
- Wooden rolling pins: Available in all kinds of wood variations from fancier walnut or blackwood to the most popular being beechwood. Beechwood rolling pins are the most common material for wooden pins as its cheap, relatively lightweight, sustainable and hygienic.
- Marble rolling pins: These types of rolling pins provide the benefit of weight to flatten dough more easily while also having very smooth finishes to reduce dough sticking or absorbing ingredients.
- Polyurethane or Polyethylene: Known simply as plastic rolling pins, these materials are commonly used on fondant rolling pins as they are lightweight and impervious to absorption of food colourings and release ingredients easily. They're also hygienic and easy to clean. You won't find a patisserie or cake maker without one of these especially as they're dishwasher friendly.
What is the best way to use a rolling pin?
As a simple guide to help you when using a rolling pin here are some simple tips:
- Ensure you dust flour on the workspace you're going to roll the dough as well as the rolling pin. This will prevent the dough from sticking to your rolling pin or the surface you're rolling on.
- Consider the room temperature and temperature of your dough. It's always best to roll dough when it's still cold and slightly firm. Rolling dough once warm or at room temperature will make it expand and become more sticky, especially when making pizza dough and dough that rises from yeast.
- Try keep a uniform amount of pressure on the rolling pin when rolling to ensure consistency in thickness across your dough. If you find that the dough is uneven in thickness in areas, place the rolling pin on the thickest section and roll outward. This is when a French rolling pin can provide better control.
- It's best to clean your rolling pin by hand than in the dishwasher (unless it's a plastic rolling pin) as the ball bearings can get damaged from the harsh dishwashing detergents.
- To prevent the wood of your rolling pin from chipping or flaking over time, it's best to regularly apply a small, even amount of oil like mineral oil or butcher block oil to it. This will ensure the longevity of your pin and reduce it from gripping to your baking dough.
What are the best brands of rolling pins?
We stock a range of great bakeware brands used by both home bakers as well as professional pastry chefs and commercial bakeries. The brands we recommend are:
- Joseph Joseph Rolling PIns are incredibly functional as they have adjustable rolling pins that feature measurements and guides to help you
- Avanti: is a very popular and affordable kitchenware and bakeware brand. Avanti rolling pins are a great option for those wanting quality at an affordable price point
. - Daily Bake: has a great range of both wooden traditional and French rolling pins made of Rubber wood on a budget.
- Chef Inox: A renowned commercial kitchenware brand used in hospitality environments all over Australia. Chef Inox rolling pins are designed for professional bakers.
What other baking tools do I need besides a rolling pin?
We offer a broad range of bakeware and baking tools, though specifically when using a rolling pin below are a few other items we'd also recommend having:
- Cookie Cutters for making uniform biscuit shapes or pastry shapes
- Pastry Mats to cover your benchtop or surface for rolling out dough. A silicone pastry mat are very handy to prevent sticking and reduce the need to continually dust with flour when preparing dough
- Mixing Bowls to mix and prepare dough. They are also great for cake mixes or preparing icing.
- Aprons to prevent the dough and flour from getting onto your clothes. A must-have when baking!
