How To Clean A Wooden Rolling Pin Efficiently
For bakers, a wooden rolling pin is one of their greatest and most essential kitchen tools. Without it, they cannot bake goodies like cookies and bake bread and cakes. Thus, having a reliable wooden rolling pin they can use anytime is necessary. Generally, wooden rolling pins are durable and can even last a lifetime. Thanks to their hardwood material, they can stay in very good condition as long as you need them. However, just like all tools you own, it needs the right maintenance and care to last long. How to clean a wooden rolling pin is a skill you need to learn if you want to maximize the use of this baking tool.
Cleaning Process
How to clean a wooden rolling pin is not as complicated as it may sound. You only need a few materials and a few steps to complete the process. Rest assured that following the guide below will help you keep your wooden rolling pin in pristine condition.
You’ll Need
- Bench scraper
- Damp dishtowel
- Dry clean cloth
- Mineral oil or wood cream
- Clean towel
What to Do
- How to clean a wooden rolling pin starts with getting rid of any food particles left in the wooden pin. To do so, hold your pin in an upright position, and use the bench scraper to clean down all parts of the pin. Rotate the rolling pin to make sure you get into all nooks and crannies. The stuck-on dough can be a bit hard to remove. Continue scraping until no food particles are left in the rolling pin.
- Take your damp cloth and use it to scrub clean your wooden rolling pin. Make sure no residue remains. If the pin is still dirty, rinse your cloth when needed and go over the pin again.
- Let the wooden rolling pin dry by using a dry cloth or towel to remove moisture. Give it a few minutes to set and dry.
- Wipe down the rolling pin with a clean cloth dabbed with your mineral oil or wooden cream. Make sure you cover all parts. This step conditions the wood to prevent cracks and warping. Thus, it extends the life of your pin significantly. Let the pin absorb the oil or cream for about an hour or so before storing it.
Other Important Notes
Here are other important notes to remember on how to clean a wooden rolling pin:
- Do not use soap to clean your wooden rolling pin. Doing so will peel the wood of its naturals oils, making it more prone to cracks. Cracks sometimes serve as a breeding ground for bacteria, so try to avoid them as much as possible.
- Do not soak your rolling pin in water. Scraping is more effective compared to washing your pin. Too much exposure to water can lead to warps and cracks. Water also makes the wood flimsier. More so, the metal handles of some rolling pins will get rusty when soaked in water.
- When you see molds forming in your rolling pin, it indicates the need for a new one. You can try to scrape and get rid of the visible mold. However, the spores might still be hiding in between small cracks, which will eventually turn into molds too. If you use a harsh chemical to get rid of them, the quality of your pin might be compromised.
- Small cracks in your wooden rolling pin can still be repaired by sanding them until you smoothen it out completely. You can also use your mineral oil to moisten the wood, allowing it to expand a bit to close the crack. However, for bigger cracks, you might need professional help for restoration. Although buying a new one can be more convenient and sometimes a cheaper alternative, restoring it might be a reasonable option if you have an heirloom or vintage rolling pin.
Conclusion
Most bakers swear to the efficiency of wooden rolling pins compared to plastic and ceramic ones. That’s why most of them still choose to purchase and use a wooden rolling pin for their baking needs. To make sure your pin lasts a long time, you need to learn how to clean a wooden rolling pin properly. Although it takes a bit of work to maintain, the kind of work and output it provides still make all the efforts worth it in the end. Find out more about rolling pins.
Related Articles
Crafting your kitchen tools adds value to it. It allows you to hone your skill, and save some bucks, too! In this guide, we will talk about how to make a rolling pin by yourself. If you don’t have a lathe that is usually used to create a rolling pin, there’s no need to worry.
