Vic Firth French Rolling Pin

French rolling pins don't have handles. Rather, the Vic Firth rolling pin is made of a single piece of maple, with gently tapering ends. Some bakers prefer this type of rolling pin because it lets you apply more nuanced pressure, making this type of pin a good choice for rolling out especially thin dough like tortillas or dumplings. On the downside, without practice, it's also easy to apply too much pressure, resulting in too-thin dough. Still, it's basically a matter of preference which type you choose. We didn't find an overwhelming winner among this style of rolling pin. However, the Vic Firth French Rolling Pin gets excellent support in user reviews. It's also reasonably priced and easy to find in stores. We also found good reviews for the similar Fante's Wooden Rolling Pin With Tapered Ends, a model that initially looks a lot cheaper until you factor in the $6 shipping charge (it's only available online).

Although several Vic Firth rolling pins are included in professional reviews, the French version is mainly reviewed on sites that allow owners to post comments. We found the largest number at Amazon.com, followed by a handful at Cooking.com. A detailed user review on a blog is also helpful.