A wooden rolling pin is a simple tool, but it is a kitchen must-have for every baker. Shaping and flattening dough using a wooden rolling pin is basic knowledge for anyone who bakes. But we all experience the same sticky situation. So, let’s find out how to keep wooden rolling pin from sticking to our dough when preparing our pastries and bread.
There is a lot of possible solutions to this simple problem, and I’m going to share with you my take on it. I will be explaining the steps to you, and I will also share tips on how to keep your wooden rolling pins in good condition. I’ll even add a solution on how to take care of your wooden rolling pins, to give it the long life it deserves. Let’s get started.
Prep Up The Rolling Pin
A wooden rolling pin is not at all perfect. Wooden rolling pins contain some pores and grooves that aren’t seen by the naked eye without a thorough inspection. If your wooden rolling pin is old, chances are oils, and old flour residue remains and easily stick to the moist, fresh dough you are about to roll.
Before rolling your dough, it is essential to prep up your rolling pin with flour. Putting flour on your wooden rolling pin is the vital trick to know how to keep wooden rolling pin from sticking to your dough. The technique of flouring up your rolling pin serves as a fundamental method in getting out of sticky situations, and almost every baker is used to this method.
By taking a damp cloth and wiping the wooden rolling pin with a thin layer of liquid before applying the flour, you cover the whole rolling pin with flour. This technique is what I use to keep the dough from sticking to my wooden rolling pin, and it works like a charm.
Be Aware Of the Surface
Another thing to note when you want to know how to keep wooden rolling pin from sticking to dough is the surface. Preferably, the best place to roll dough is on a smooth flat surface. Avoid rolling dough in rough, cemented or uneven surfaces. This is to avoid lumps and to prevent the dough from sticking in unwanted places.
After rolling dough on a smooth surface, chances are the dough will stick to the surface and will be hard to remove.
The same technique applies to the surface. Put a generous amount of flour on the surface before rolling your dough. Putting flour on the surface will allow you to pluck the dough right out after pressing.
I still use my damped cloth method on the surface before applying the flour. It does the job. You might also want to use a bench scraper to scrape the dough out of the surface. Bakers use this method all the time, especially when working with large quantities of dough.
Wax Paper
Wax paper is the modern solution to the age-old question, how to keep wooden rolling pin from sticking to the dough. Wax paper is widely available in all grocery and baking stores. It comes handy in a lot of other baking techniques as well. Not only can it answer the question of how to keep wooden rolling pin from sticking to the dough, but it also takes care of dough sticking to the surface of your counter. Here are the steps:
- STEP 1: Place a large piece of wax paper on the surface.
- STEP 2: Place the dough right in the middle of the wax paper. Place another piece of wax paper over the dough, making sure it is entirely covered with an additional allowance.
- STEP 3: Flatten the dough with your wooden rolling pin.
And there you have it in a simple three-step process. The best part about using wax paper is that it does not leave a mess afterward.
Keeping Wooden Rolling Pins In Good Condition
If the wax paper is not available, knowing how to keep wooden rolling pin from sticking to dough always boils down to the condition of your wooden rolling pin. No matter how much flour you put on the rolling pin or the surface, a battered rolling pin will always have creases where the dough can easily stick and hold on to. The wooden rolling pin is a great asset to have in the kitchen, and for a serious baker, it is also a reminder of the hard work they put into baking pastries, cookies, and pies. Here are four tips on how to keep wooden rolling pins in good condition.
- Before storing away a wooden rolling pin, you always make sure it is dry and free of moisture.
- Always rinse the wooden rolling pin immediately with hot water after baking.
- When scrubbing it down, use a plastic scouring pad to avoid damage on the wood.
- Lastly, store it in a drawer to keep it away from moisture and mold.
Wooden Roller Condition
It is not necessary to condition wooden rolling pins. But in some cases, where the rolling pin is exposed to high temperatures, like having it through a dishwasher, it will be prone to cracks. Don’t worry because there is a chance to salvage your rolling pin, especially if you have a personal attachment to it.
What you can do is to wipe the wooden rolling pin down with some olive oil, the same oil you would use to cook food or glaze salads. Food grade mineral oil also works. This method of conditioning is natural and is safe. You can also apply this to your wooden kitchen tools like breadboards and chopping boards.
Conclusion
After going through my take on how to keep wooden rolling pin from sticking to the dough, you are now better equipped in your baking adventures. Baking and cooking is a practice like no other because it takes the simplest of actions and turns them into extraordinary results. I hope this article has added to your knowledge regarding baking and food preparation. When caring for your wooden rolling pins, remember my tips, flour it up and use wax paper. Happy baking! Get more tips on using rolling pins.