Tapered French Rolling Pin

Turned from one piece of hard maple, this pin is thickest in the middle and tapers toward each end. That shape lets you pivot easily to roll pie crust into a true circle, and your hands sit close to the dough so you can feel where it is thin or thick. It handles cookie dough, pasta sheets, and flatbreads just as happily.

Dust the pin and your counter lightly with flour. Once you are done, scrape off stuck bits with a bench scraper, wipe with a damp cloth, and dry right away. Never soak it. A rub of mineral oil every couple of months keeps the wood from drying out.