Being the pie lover that I am, my wooden rolling pin is an important item in my kitchen. I’ve been using the same rolling pin for 37 years, and it’s in beautiful condition. I’ve taken care of it over the years, but it’s not complicated; just a few simple tips will keep yours in great condition, too.
How to Clean a Wooden Rolling Pin
After using your rolling pin, wash it in hot water. Don’t use soap, which can strip the oils out of the wood. And definitely never allow your rolling pin to sit in water for any amount of time. This will cause the wood to swell, and possibly crack once it’s dried out.
Don’t ever put a wooden rolling pin in your dishwasher. After washing your rolling pin, dry it completely before storing.
How to Season a Wooden Rolling Pin
It is often recommended that wooden rolling pins be wiped with food grade mineral oil to create a waterproof seal, to keep pastry from sticking to it, and to keep the wood from drying out. Mineral oil is a distillation product of petroleum, so that’s definitely not something I personally would do or recommend.
If the wood in your rolling pin appears to be drying out, use an oil that is safe to eat and won’t go rancid. Most vegetable oils or even lard are not appropriate because they do go rancid fairly quickly. Coconut oil, on the other hand, is a very stable oil and does not easily go rancid. It’s is a good alternative to mineral oil for seasoning and protecting your rolling pin.
Block oil is a product made specifically for oiling wooden utensils like cutting boards and salad bowls, and would be another fine choice for oiling a wooden rolling pin. It contains refined seed oil, lemon oil, vitamin E and carotene, and will not become rancid.
A half teaspoon of oil is plenty to rub on the surface of your pin. Wipe off all excess oil with a soft clean cloth. You shouldn’t need to do this often; it’s only necessary if the wood appears to be drying out.
Keep these tips in mind if you have other wooden items in your kitchen. Each of them holds true for cutting boards, salad bowls and wooden spoons as well.
Pie is Why I Have a Rolling Pin
Ok, all this talk of rolling pins has me drooling for pie. Here are a few great recipes to enjoy:
