French Rolling Pin Care and Maintenance
I just received a new french rolling pin as a gift. I washed it once in mild soap and water and made sure it dried quickly by wiping it down. It is now a little rougher than before washing.
- Should I oil it? If so, what kind of oil?
- Should I refrain from washing it ever, and just wipe it down with a 'damp' cloth?
- Should I just chuck it and buy a new one of a higher quality that isn't rough at all?
These are my main questions after searching online and finding conflicting advice about washing and oiling. I thought to put it to you guys here on Seasoned Advice!
Best Answer
You don't need to oil it. Don't wash it, just wipe it as you suggest, and the oils it absorbs from pastry etc will do the job for you.
Your current one may smooth out a bit once it's absorbed some oil. If not, grab a new one.
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Quick Answer about "French Rolling Pin Care and Maintenance"
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.Should you oil a rolling pin?
Oil the rolling pin: Regularly oiling your rolling pin will increase its longevity considerably, keeping the wood conditioned and preventing cracks from forming. Dab a few drops of mineral oil or butcher block oil onto the lint-free cleaning cloth, then rub it into the entire surface of the pin.Do you need to season a rolling pin?
Many people recommend that you season your wooden rolling pin, though it is not normally necessary for pins that have been properly cared for. To season your rolling pin, first make sure it is clean and dry, not dusty or damp.What do you put on a rolling pin to keep it from sticking?
Sprinkle flour over the rolling pin lightly then roll the rolling pin over the flour you sprinkled on the work surface to cover it on all sides. Rub your palm over the pin to work the flour into it.Rolling Pin Care
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Answer 2
The roughness you observed after a first washing is because the manufacturer neglected to do this themselves. All workers in fine wood know the last sanding leaves very tiny broken wood fibers behind. A quick dampening of the wood makes these fibers stand up and another light sanding with 600 grit or light rub down with "0000" steel wool will it smooth out. There is also the possibility the last sanding was when it was still spinning on the lathe which is cross-grain. Very common with production turnings. A final hand buff with "0000" steel wool going with the grain is what I always do on nice wood projects.
I do not recommend oiling a pin. I just had to toss one out that was ruined from oil that soaked in and became rancid. I put it back on my shop lathe and started removing layers of wood, thinking I will eventually get down to clean wood again. After turning the pin down to half it's original diameter, I gave up. The stench was still there. This was a very hard maple pin, which is even more surprising.
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