7 Rolling Pin Substitutes: How to Reuse Household Objects

Have you ever gotten half way through a recipe only to realize you don't have a rolling pin in the kitchen? Don't worry! Here are seven rolling pin substitutes that will work (just as) well.

Before you head out to buy a rolling pin for that one specific recipe, have a look around your home to see if you have a suitable rolling pin substitute hiding away. There are plenty of everyday items that can work just as well as a regular rolling pin, and it saves you from buying something you’ll rarely use. 

No matter what you use, make sure that it is clean, dry and free of anything that could end up sticking to the food that you are rolling out. Any bottles should be free of labels — you might need to learn how to get stickers off of glass in order to get a clean bottle. Many recipes suggest dusting the rolling pin with flour or oiling it before use, and you should follow these instructions where appropriate. 

The first thing you need to consider is what you need to roll out. How big is it? What is the desired thickness? These are all relevant factors in choosing the right rolling pin substitute. You may not have all these items, but it’s likely that you have a few on hand. 

1. An Empty Wine Bottle

A clean, label-free empty wine bottle really is an excellent rolling pin substitute. It’s strong, cylindrical and just about the same size as a regular wooden pin. Plus, the neck acts as a decent handle, making rolling out your pastry or dough a little easier. Try using this rolling pin substitute to make vegan puff pastry.

2. A Can of Soda

A full can of soda works remarkably well as a rolling pin substitute, unless you need it for pizza dough or to roll out a large pie crust. Due to its smaller size, you can use a can of soda to roll out things like dumpling wrappers or individual mochi. As an extra bonus, you can use a can straight from the fridge if you’re rolling something that needs to stay as cool as possible. Just remember to wipe of any condensation that might appear as you go.

3. Use Your Hands as a Rolling Pin Substitute

Sometimes you might not even need a rolling pin for a certain recipe. Pizza dough can often be stretched by hand. And with some dough, you could try flouring a clean dish towel and laying it on top of the dough and gently but firmly smoothing it out out with the palms of your hands. It takes some practice but is surprisingly effective and very sustainable. However, this method doesn’t work well when it comes to pastry dough. 

If you just need to lightly flatten a small piece of dough, the heel of your hand can be pretty useful. Many recipes even suggest using the heel of your hand for foods that will be single serve and not super thin, such as vegan arepas. 

4. A Flat-Based, Heavy Pan

Much like a tortilla press, a pan with a flat base can flatten or squash a dough pretty effectively. So while not technically ‘rolling’, the end result is very similar, so this can easily be used as a rolling pin substitute. This method works well for foods that don’t need to be rolled out very thin, like flatbread. You’ll also need to keep an eye on the base size of the pan — if you need your dough larger than that, this method isn’t for you.

5. A Chopsick

If handled with care, a chopstick can act as a mini rolling pin in a pinch — provided you use the cylindrical shaped ones. Using the heel of your hand, flatten out the dough before using the chopstick as a rolling pin substitute – just be careful not to press too hard. This method can be effective for rolling out thin strips of pastry for a lattice pie crust, or even for vegan Christmas cookies.

6. A Pasta Maker

Maybe you’re a home cook with all the gadgets but just no rolling pin? For thin dumpling wrappers, small tortillas, flatbread, or even graham crackers, make use of the pasta maker that might be gathering dust in the back of your cupboard. You will be limited in what dough you can use, since pasta makers have definite size limitations. 

7. A Thick Walled Glass Tumbler

A thick-walled glass tumbler can work as a rolling pin substitute. Thick-walled is ideal in order to avoid snapping, cracking and breaking. Since the glass won’t be as tall as a rolling pin is long, working with a dough or pastry that will be cut into smaller portions and therefore handled less would be great. Just make sure the glass is straight and without any handles or patterns, and has been washed before use. You can use this rolling pin alternative to make biscuits, vegan scones and raw vegan oreos. Portion the dough first, roll with the glass to the desired thickness and then use the rim to cut the dough into rounds.

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