If you enjoy making fancy pastries, you may want to use a pastry wheel. When choosing one of these crimpers, it can be good to know what kind of pastries you might make and what you want them to look like. You can buy one of these tools with a wooden or metal handle, so you can choose the one that is most comfortable for you to use. It can be a good idea to try the wheel out first in order to see if it is easy to use.
You can use a pastry wheel to cut dough or to give it a decorative edge. When you are trying to choose a tool, think about what designs you like, and then look for a wheel with this pattern. You may want to use different edgings for various types of pastries, in which case it can be a good idea to choose one with interchangeable wheels.
If you plan to cut pastries as well as give them a decorative trim, you may want to choose one with a dual wheel. This type of pastry wheel has one section with a straight edge and another with a crimped edge. The advantage to one of these tools is that you will not have to switch instruments while you are baking, which could save you valuable time.
Some pastry wheels have an ergonomic handle, while others have a straight one. Tools that have an ergonomic handle may cost slightly more, but the extra cost could be worth it if you plan to use the wheel for an extended time. By gripping several different handles, you will be able to tell if one style is more comfortable than another to use.
You will likely need to clean your pastry wheel often, so it is important to consider how to do this. Some of these tools can be placed in a dishwasher, and this can be a convenient way of washing them. Even though you may be able to place a wheel in the dishwasher, doing so may not remove dough from a serrated blade or from underneath the wheel itself. You may want to find one that can be disassembled before placing it in the dishwasher in order to ensure the instrument gets completely clean. If hand washing is recommended, pay attention to whether there are sharp edges so you will not buy a tool that will cut you the first time you do so.
