This model from Fox Run has a 10-inch pin with 4-inch wooden handles on each end. It also comes with a matching wooden base to make it easier to store in a cabinet or on your open shelving. No more worrying about a heavy 5-pound marble pin rolling off the shelf and on to your toes. Before you buy your first (or next) rolling pin, it's helpful to understand the varieties and styles of rolling pins available to bakers today. Marble: The weight and smoothness of the marble offer a super-smooth roll over both shortcrust pastry and cookie dough. The coolness (which can be increased further by chilling it in the fridge) makes them ideal for making puff pastry.

A French rolling pin is basically a long dowel with tapered ends. Since there are no moving parts and no seams or nooks that can collect flour or dough, it's easier to clean. The pin is 2 inches in diameter and weighs just under 1.5 pounds, so it’s heavy enough to handle dough, but not so heavy to make it difficult to use. It is not dishwasher-safe and should be washed with warm, soapy water and dried immediately. Since this pin is so long, you might not be able to fit it into a standard-sized kitchen drawer. When shopping for a rolling pin, one of the first questions to ask yourself is, "What type of dough will I be working with most often?" American rolling pins don't allow for fine tuning of a dough, but you'll be giving your hands and wrists a break thanks to the rolling axel in the rolling pin's chamber. French rolling pins might be difficult to manage for first-time bakers because it requires greater dexterity and pressure control Another added, "It is a complete game changer. I can roll out pizza dough in under a minute and it gets very thin. It's so heavy, you have to put very little effort into rolling." WE ARE A FAMILY BRAND: With cooking at the heart of our home: Our award-winning kitchenware reflects this: Oliver's Kitchen adds the spice of fun to your family meals (and some might say, with British cooking you need all the spice possible!).Dry the rolling pin immediately. Do not let wooden rolling pins sit in water. They will absorb the liquid, swell, and ruin. Not only are marble rolling pins extremely pretty to look at, they're also super functional. Their hefty weight makes rolling dough even easier—the pin does most of the work for you. Plus, you can throw the whole rolling pin in the freezer, and it will help keep the dough cold as you roll. This particular one from Fox Run also comes with a resting base so you can display it as part of your kitchen decor. This roundup was edited by Jenny Kellerhals. Jenny is a food and beverage writer with over a decade of experience as a professional pastry chef in NYC. Pies are one of her favorite desserts to make, and she prefers a French-style rolling pin for most projects. Stainless steel and silicone: Like marble but without the weight, stainless steel can be cooled down further to keep pastry cool. Both produce a smooth finish and are light and easy to use. Aside from being aesthetically pleasing, a marble rolling pin has a couple of major benefits. First, unlike wood, a marble pin can be chilled in the fridge or freezer, which is ideal for working with temperature-sensitive laminated doughs like puff pastry or pie crust. Second, marble pins are generally heavier than their wooden counterparts, so they can help flatten a stiff dough with ease.

This style of rolling pin, also called a "baker’s" or "American" rolling pin, is most likely the one you are familiar with. It has a wooden barrel that rotates around a dowel attached to two handles, usually wooden as well. This is by far the most common style you’ll find in home kitchens. On the more expensive side, marble rolling pins will last a lifetime if you take good care of them. But they're super heavy and definitely not ergonomic or kid-friendly, and they could break if dropped. Wood: A classic rolling pin is made of wood, which bakers love as it can easily be dusted with flour and, with love and care, will last a lifetime. A wooden pin also improves with age as it builds up a natural patina from the fats in the pastry.

4 More Ways to Use a Rolling Pin

From durable and classic to sleek and modern, here are 10 rolling pins that will drastically improve your kitchenware collection in more ways than one.