This method may be less traditional, but it can also be faster and easier. Grinding Spices – If you don’t have a mortar and pestle or, if you do and don’t feel like using them, a rolling pin can but put to use to crush and crumble your whole spices.Here are some other great ways to use a rolling pin: Whether you’re making cookies, pizza, pie, or pasta, a rolling pin will come in handy. They can also be used for many more purposes, however. This handy guide from Chef Grace’s Place on YouTube is a concise guide to different types of rolling pins and what each one is best suited for, as well as the best way to clean and maintain your rolling pin.Īs mentioned, the primary purpose of a rolling pin is to roll out dough for baked goods. They are typically used after the dough has been rolled to the ideal thickness and is simply in need of some decoration. These have decorative surfaces that press designs into your dough as your roll. These are the most common style of rolling pin and also usually the least expensive, though of course there are many exceptions to this rule.įor special purposes, you can also find textured rolling pins.

They’re typically made out of steel or glass and they’re more difficult to rotate.įinally, the most traditional rolling pin, sometimes called a baker’s pin, has a cylindrical rod with handles on either side. Rolling pins that don’t have handles and aren’t tapered at the ends are nearly as popular, though they do exist. Rolling pins come in many different shapes and sizes, as we’ve covered, but there are also several different types.įrench rolling pins do not have handles but are tapered on each end, making it easier to maneuver and grip the pin. There is a lot of leeway to find the perfect tool for the job. The goal is to have an object that you can roll over dough with enough force to flatten it out evenly. The only real requirement or rule to a rolling pin is that it must be sturdy and cylindrical. There’s even an option to have handles, no handles, or tapered ends. It’s common to find rolling pins made out of hardwood but they can also be made of aluminum or stainless steel, glass, ceramic, plastic, or silicone. Rolling pins typically vary in length from approximately 8-18” with a width between 1.5-3.25”, though there are no hard and fast rules. For a very simple baking tool, they can be surprisingly complex. If you’ve ever done any kind of baking you’ve probably come across a rolling pin once or twice in your life. Somewhere in your home is a rolling pin alternative just waiting to be cleaned and put to good use in your kitchen. In this article, we’ll talk about what you should expect from a proper rolling pin and offer you 17 creative rolling pin substitutes. The best substitutes include drinking glasses, wine bottles, flat-bottomed pans, and wooden dowels. What are the best rolling pin substitutes? When it comes to rolling pins, they can be substituted for nearly any sturdy, cylindrical object you can find in your home. Any kitchen gadget that doesn’t have to follow strict regulations for use can often be substituted for another tool. Rolling pins are incredibly useful tools, but they’re also variable. If you’re in a baking mood and discover that your rolling pin has disappeared, is broken, or perhaps never existed at all, you don’t have to put your dessert dreams on hold.