Can You Put a Rolling Pin in the Dishwasher

QUESTION: What's the best way to clean a wooden rolling pin? — Karen Wagner, Clinton Township

ANSWER: Wooden rolling pins can last a lifetime if you care for them properly. But techniques for cleaning them vary. The most important rule: Don't submerge or leave the rolling pin to soak in water.

Never.

It can cause the wood to crack. And for that very same reason, don't even think about putting a wooden rolling pin in the dishwasher.

All the rolling pin needs is to be wiped with a damp cloth and then dried with a clean towel. You can wash it with a little warm soapy water if you like, but make sure to immediately and thoroughly dry it.

If your rolling pin has bits of dough stuck to it, use a bench scraper to remove them. Stand the rolling pin on one of its ends and run the bench scraper in a downward motion. If the rolling pin has handles, hold it on a slight angle and use the bench scraper.

To clean a marble rolling pin, hand-wash it with warm water and dry immediately. For rolling pins that are plastic, silicone, aluminum or nonstick, be sure to check the user's manual for a care guide.

This brings me to the question: Why all the different rolling pins?

With baking season approaching faster than you can ask for a slice of pie, here's a look at some different styles. Most are suitable for any task, but some are preferred over others, mainly for their heaviness. Prices range from as little as $12 for a standard wooden rolling pin to as high as $90.

Traditional, classic hardwood: These are also called American or bakers' rolling pins, according to the "The New Food Lover's Companion" by Sharon Tyler Herbst. They have handles and are about 2 inches in diameter and anywhere from 12 to 20 inches long. The handles are secured with a steel rod in the center.

Dowel rolling pin: This is a rolling pin without the handles. It's solid wood and about 2 inches in diameter. America's Test Kitchen cited the J.K. Adams dowel rolling pin as a favorite for handling "dough for pie, cookies, pizza and yeasted rolls."$15 at www.surlatable.com.

Tapered: Also referred to as French style. These are similar to the dowel style — no handles — but the ends are tapered. They are about 1¾ inches in diameter at their thickest point. Bakers prefer these, especially for rolling pie dough into a circle. This one is $11.99 at www.bedbathandbeyond.com.

In the just released "Sister Pie: The Recipes and Stores of a Big-Hearted Bakery in Detroit" author and owner Lisa Ludwinski's suggests using the tapered style. She says it allows "you to gently apple pressure to specific portions of the dough while rolling it." It also helps roll out the dough to an even thickness all the way around.

More:Detroit's Sister Pie owner shares her recipes in new cookbook

More:Lasagna recipe is made easy with frozen cheese ravioli

Marble rolling pin: These marble rolling pins are heavy. One at www.williams-sonoma.com weighs six pounds. These heavy rolling pins help keep dough cold. You'll find them for $30 and more at various retailers.

Kitchen tip: No rolling pin? No problem. Use a wine bottle.

Do you have a rolling pin that you've held onto for years? Or one that has special meaning? Send me an email (address below) and tell me about it.

Have a question? Contact Susan Selasky at 313-222-6872 or sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.

Can You Put a Rolling Pin in the Dishwasher

Source: https://www.freep.com/story/life/food/2018/10/10/cleaning-wooden-rolling-pin-heres-how/1569818002/#:~:text=ANSWER%3A%20Wooden%20rolling%20pins%20can,you%20care%20for%20them%20properly.&text=It%20can%20cause%20the%20wood,dried%20with%20a%20clean%20towel.

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