Chances are good that the type of rolling pin you use depends on
what your mother or other cooking mentor had, whether it is the
best option or not. There are several different styles of rolling
pins on the market, and each one has its own set of benefits and
drawbacks. So how can you determine what is the right choicefor
you? We scoured the internet to find the answer.
While the number of rolling pin options can be overwhelming,
there are only a few basic varieties. The first variable you need
to consider is whether or not you want handles. Most professional
bakers choose rolling pins without handles (often referred to as
French pins) because they have a larger surface area, are more
maneuverable, and allow for better 'feedback' from the dough.
They're also lighter, and as Dorie Greenspan says, while
heavier, handled pins are suitable for coaxing puffy yeast doughs
into the desired shape, they can be too heavy for cookies and
pastry. The argument to be made for rolling pins with
handles is that they can be easier on the wrists, especially those
with ball bearings.
Choosing whether you want a tapered pin or one that is straight
across, like a dowel, is the next decision to make. Tapered rolling
pins can allow you to more easily make round shapes because they
concentrate the pressure on the center of the dough. The taper does
make it more likely to roll unevenly, however, so that is a
consideration. Straight pins allow you to use spacers to more
accurately achieve the proper dough thickness. Serious Eats calls
the spacers "training wheels" for your rolling pin.
In addition to the shape, the type of material differentiates
the rolling pins. Each material comes with its own set of
properties, and which you choose can depend in part on what type of
doughs you are working with. Pins can be made of
wood, marble, stainless steel, glass, or
silicone.
Wood is the most traditional material, is inexpensive, and
can be gorgeous as well as practical - I purchased the beautiful
sapele pin above from a local woodworker for a very reasonable
price. Some varieties of wood can stick to the dough a bit more
than others, but generally speaking all hardwood
pins, such as maple, beech, or ash, will perform well in
this regard. Hard maple is the most common wood species, and one
that many bakers swear by.
Marble pins are, according to Joy the Baker, "for the
aesthetically aware and the laminated dough enthusiasts." They can
be chilled, which is helpful when handling buttery
pastry that needs to stay cool. They are also beautiful, expensive,
and heavy (remember Dorie's advice above). In my experience, marble
pins have a tendency to stick to the dough more than wooden
ones.
Stainless steel is a newer option that possesses
many of the positive attributes of marble with few drawbacks. You
can chill the pins, they are silky smooth, lightweight, and they
aren't very expensive. They may not be as attractive as marble, but
they do have a certain modern aesthetic that some people might
appreciate. You may want to wear gloves if you use a chilled metal
pin as they can become uncomfortably cold and do not usually have
handles (most marble pins do).
Silicone pins are touted as being completely nonstick, but as
with all silicone tools they have a tendency to pick up and hold on
to odors. Most silicone pins are the type with handles, so they are
not as maneuverable as the straight or tapered French rolling pins.
Glass rolling pins may look cool, but they are impractical for
reasons you can probably guess. Some glass pins allow you to put
ice in the center to chill, but condensation usually renders this a
poor choice. No one wants soggy dough.
As with many baking tools, there is no one-size-fits-all,
perfect option. The choice that is right for you will depend on
what you feel comfortable using, how much money you are willing to
spend, and what types of doughs you will be rolling. Since rolling
pins are relatively inexpensive and don't take up much room, having
more than one is often a practical solution, so that you can switch
depending on the task at hand. If it helps, tell your significant
other I said it's okay to buy another rolling pin.