You put it on a rolling pin, and then brush some flour on it.
Its purpose is to help prevent dough from sticking to the rolling pin. It’s actually the flour that helps with the not-sticking, not the cloth, though, so strictly speaking, the purpose of the cloth is to hold the flour.
It is usually used in conjunction with a pastry cloth (meaning, people who are painstaking enough in their baking to use a Rolling Pin Cover tend to also have the patience to use a pastry cloth.)
Though you can buy them purpose made, some people just use a clean, odd sock with the toe snipped off.
Some people wash their Rolling Pin Covers after every use, others don’t. Instead of washing theirs, some people store them in the freezer in a sealed plastic bag to prevent any dough stuck on them from going rancid (shake or brush off excess flour first.) Some people do this not just out of “laziness”, but because some Rolling Pin Covers can shrink when washed.
They are for use with British and North American style rolling pins, not French style ones.
Cooking Tips
While using, reapply flour as needed.
Language Notes
Sometimes referred to as a “stocking” or “stockinette.”
