For the Love of Rolling Pins
Oct 22, 2011 | From the kitchen of Rose
I hadn't really thought to count my pins until I discovered a wonderful rolling pin company in my beloved state of Vermont. It was in Vermont where I rolled my first pie crust and now I have two new fantastic rolling pins from Vermont Rolling Pins. I fell in love with the walnut beehive pin and enjoy the feel of the spiral handles.
I also love the walnut column for its long barrel, especially when I'm rolling large dough rounds as for a galette. The also come in maple but I love the look of walnut and also it is the hardest wood. I also had my eye on the large heavy duty Shaker rolling pin.....
Different types of rolling pins have different purposes but no one needs as many pins as are in my collection, in fact, in a pinch one can roll out pie dough with a smooth bottle. But how much more lovely a feeling to use a treasured pin, especially one made of wood that takes on a patina from the dough after years of use. Also, what better kitchen decoration?!
Note, there are some applications that require a heavy pin for quick even rolling and others that require a gentle touch for softer doughs or marizpan with a lighter pin. For sticky doughs I use a pastry sleeve on the pin but usually a light dusting of flour is all that's necessary with some of the better pins.
Herewith a description of some of my favorite pins and their uses:
Stainless steel pin My dad gave me this for rolling nougatine where you need a very heavy pin or great strength to roll quickly before the nougatine cools and hardens. It weighs close to 9 pounds so could not be used as a weapon unless I lifted it with both hands! Years ago, when he had his wood working shop in the Bronx, there was a metal working shop on the floor below where he acquired the piece of steel.
Swiss plastic long pin with detachable circles that determine many different thicknesses of dough.
Textured hard grey plastic pins to make designs in marzipan.
Miniature rolling pins and breyer for small pieces of dough.
French solid white silicone column
Commercial size pin with ball bearings This used to be my favorite pin because its size and weight rolled the dough so quickly it never softened but the problem is I never have enough room on my counter to use such a long pin!
French wood pin with tapered ends designed by baker Marcy Goldman and given to me by her. I often reach for it out of sentiment and also for the beautiful feel of the smooth wood that barely sticks to the dough.
Long pasta rolling pin There was a time I actually used this long thin wooden pin to roll pasta by hand but now I use a machine.
French puff pastry rolling pin with ridges which incorporate the sheets of butter without breaking through the dough.
Green bottle glass pin was too beautiful to pass up but is not even so would not work well to use as a rolling pin.
Clear glass pin which can hold ice cubes. I just had to try this out but the condensation that formed was undesirable.
Heavy marble pin that can be chilled and will keep the chill for rolling dough on warmer days.
A bridge pin that I found almost 50 years ago in Washington Crossing Pa, that was made from wood from a bridge that had washed down during a flood.
And most special of all: the one I grew up with--the one my dad made for my mother many years ago.
Confession: I've just added yet another pin to my collection: Who could resist an adorable vintage red bakelite rolling pin button I found on line!
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terri in reply to comment from Rose Levy Beranbaum
11/02/2011 05:20 PM
thanks, that's helpful! i was always worried that if i didn't use soap, any butter/ oil from the dough would make the pin smell rancid after awhile. but using soap and water made me worry about the pin drying out or warping.
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Apricot
11/01/2011 08:17 PM
Now I don't feel so bad about all of the rolling pins I've accumulated. Some I've bought and some I've kept from the kitchens of deceased relatives. Every once in a while, I look at them, thinking "I don't need all of these. Which one(s) should I get rid of?" I guess I don't knead, er, need to get rid of any of them!
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Rose Levy Beranbaum in reply to comment from Melissa
11/01/2011 04:51 PM
i've never seen a new wooden tutove or rolling pin for puff pastry. i didn't think they still made them. yes it's worth having this pin if you make puff pastry. either plastic or wood works the same.
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Melissa in reply to comment from Rose Levy Beranbaum
11/01/2011 04:47 PM
Is it worth the $230 price tag?! Also, I noticed that some are made of plastic and others wood. Is one material better than the other? I'm wondering if I can just have a wooden one made for me.
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Rose Levy Beranbaum in reply to comment from terri
11/01/2011 10:16 AM
terri, good question! i keep many in a big drawer and the ones that hang are in my country kitchen. vermont rolling pin co. recommends rubbing with mineral oil. i find that by using them often and never using soap--in fact i just wipe them down with paper towels--works well.
the white teflon pin i put in the dishwasher!
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terri
10/31/2011 05:33 PM
what a lovely rolling pin collection (and kitchen)! how do you care for your wooden pins to keep them in such good condition?
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Matthew
10/28/2011 12:37 PM
What a gorgeous kitchen! I thought it was a photo taken from the rolling-pin catalog when I first saw it. Looks like something a from a magazine--beautiful design Rose!
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Judy
10/28/2011 05:13 AM
Rose, your rolling pin collection is fascinating. Some real beauties there. In fact, looking at them makes me think of magic wands and, I suppose between your deft hands and a piece of dough, true magic really is made in your kitchen.
This post made me reflect on my own collection of pins. Without realising it, I think I am in possession of at least six pins ranging from simple wood to silicon. These darlings sure have a determined way of multiplying...just like the cookie cutters in my life. I have already lost count of how many of those I own.
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Rose Levy Beranbaum in reply to comment from Melissa
10/27/2011 11:09 AM
melissa, either jb prince or la cuisine
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Melissa
10/27/2011 10:57 AM
I just brought back a rolling pin with upright handles from Germany. It's works really well for rolling out croissant dough. My palms get bruised from all of that rolling/pressure! This pin seemed to speed up the rolling process. I'm curious about the french puff pastry pin. Where can it be purchased?
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Jenn
10/25/2011 12:53 PM
What a lovely post Rose! Thanks for sharing your photos and stories. I love the look of your kitchen as well. Very homey. All the different shapes of the cast iron pans make for beautiful kitchen decorations as well.
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Flour Girl
10/23/2011 10:38 PM
Thank you. That is how I feel when I go back home to NY too. The contrast makes me realize what really matters.
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Rose levy beranbaum in reply to comment from Flour Girl
10/23/2011 07:59 PM
What a lovely comment flour girl. In fact I am
Now on my way back to NY--reluctantly. I feel
Truly at home in hope. What a perfect name for a town.
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Flour Girl
10/23/2011 07:23 PM
What an interesting collection. I love how you decorated your kitchen and dining area. It has the look you want to come home to.
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Rose Levy Beranbaum in reply to comment from Zach Townsend
10/23/2011 04:53 PM
zach--i once got upgraded to business class coming back from italy because the customs officials couldn't figure out what the rolling pin was in my suitcase when the x-rayed it and i didn't know that what they were troubled by. when they went through the entire suitcase and unearthed the rolling pin they laughed their heads off saying something like pasticceria passticeria which i now know means pastry chef. by this time all the economy seats were filled so they were forced to give me business class seat! the prociutto in business class, however, was not nearly as good as what i had brought from pec and pec in milano c on the advice of my dear friend faith willinger!
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Zach Townsend
10/23/2011 01:03 PM
This is a beautiful topic! Having just come from Vermont, I appreciate your mention of their rolling pins as I almost bought a beautiful one there myself (the only thing that kept me from it was fitting into my already tight carry on luggage). I'll buy it next time I go.
I have my great aunt's old rolling pin that I love. She used to make pies all the time.
Beautiful display in the kitchen.
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CRenee
10/22/2011 09:23 PM
I so appreciate this posting.. You are so generous to share these photos and provide this education as well. Now I, too, do not feel bad about having 5 pins and wanting more.
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Julie
10/22/2011 04:20 PM
What a wonderful collection, I love that many of them have sentimental value. Now I don't feel bad about having two pins, instead of just one.
Sounds like the Vermont walnut pins may make great holiday gifts!
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Jennifer Barnaby
10/22/2011 03:51 PM
I loved your rolling pin post. Years ago when I was studying Boulangerie in Paris, I bought a French acacia wooden rolling pin because our teacher lectured us that rolling pins with handles were for housewives and not pastry chefs. I still use it to this day to make croissants and French pastry doughs but in defiance I use my mother's old, worn out rolling pin for cookies or my new blue teflon pin for everything else. Old habits die hard!
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