A pastry wheel is a small rolling cutter on a handle. It cuts dough by pressing down as it rolls, so soft pastry stays in place instead of dragging behind a knife. The fluted kind leaves a neat wavy edge, which is the look of a lattice pie, a ravioli or a jam-filled cookie.
It is a narrower tool than a pizza cutter, and the small wheel turns tighter corners. This guide compares fluted, straight and double-headed wheels, plus a crimper that seals as it cuts, and explains which suits pies, pasta and hand pies. If you are building a baking kit, start with our best rolling pin guide, because a wheel can only follow the dough you roll.
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Quick verdict: which pastry wheel to buy
For most bakers, the best pastry wheel here is the Fante’s Cousin Rosa’s Double Pastry Cutter: straight and zigzag blades on one tool, made in Italy from stainless steel and beechwood, with clear care instructions. Choose the Norpro Grip-EZ if you want a soft handle for long sessions, or the Norpro Crimp-Cut-Seal if you make empanadas and hand pies.
Pastry wheels are simple tools, and few reviewers compare them. So we say below where a pick rests on the maker’s details alone.
Five pastry wheels at a glance
Five wheels, one for each kind of baker. All seven picks are covered in full below.
| Pastry wheel | Best for | Wheels | Care | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fante’s Cousin Rosa’s Double Pastry CutterBest overall
|
Pasta and pastry together | 2: straight and zigzag | Hand wash | View on Amazon |
| Long cutting sessions | 2: fluted and smooth | Not stated by maker | View on Amazon | |
Norpro Crimp-Cut-Seal Pastry WheelBest for sealed edges
|
Hand pies and empanadas | 1 fluted crimper | Hand wash | View on Amazon |
Marcato Atlas Pastawheel, 3 WheelsMost cutting patterns
|
Decorative pasta edges | 3 swappable wheels | Dry brush only | View on Amazon |
R&M Deluxe Pastry Wheel, 7.25 InchLargest wheel
|
Long, even strips | 1 fluted | Hand wash or top rack | View on Amazon |
Details come from the makers’ listings. Stock was checked on Amazon when we wrote this guide.
Our picks for the best pastry wheel
The seven wheels below include single fluted wheels, double-headed tools, a crimper and a three-wheel set. Each review gives what the maker states and flags what it does not.
1. Fante’s Cousin Rosa’s Double Pastry Cutter – Italian Steel and Beechwood
Fante’s is a Philadelphia kitchen shop that dates itself to 1906, and this is its own double wheel. Two 1.5-inch stainless blades, one straight and one zigzag, share a beechwood handle. It is made in Italy.
Fante’s says it makes straight or zigzag cuts in pasta, pie and cookie dough, and that it cuts and seals stuffing inside ravioli in a single action. It also names breadsticks, fettuccine, egg noodles and lattice pie crusts among its uses. That makes it a practical choice for filled pasta and for small empanadas, which also need a sealed edge. For the method, see our note on Mexican empanadas.
The wood asks for some care: hand wash it in warm, soapy water and apply mineral oil to the handle now and then. Fante’s also warns you to keep fingers away from the blades. The tool’s length is not stated. We read no independent review of this model, so this rests on the maker’s listing.
Why we like it
- Straight and zigzag blades on one tool
- Made in Italy from stainless steel and beechwood
- Cuts and seals ravioli in one action, per the maker
- Clear care instructions
Key specifications
| Model | 14811 |
|---|---|
| Wheels | 2: straight and zigzag |
| Wheel size | 1.5 inches |
| Length | Not stated |
| Wheel material | Stainless steel |
| Handle | Beechwood |
| Made in | Italy |
| Care | Hand wash; oil the handle now and then |
Why we recommend it
It suits people who switch between pasta and pastry and want one traditional tool, whether for a lattice on a pie dish or for the shapes a ravioli mold cannot do.
Skip it if you want a tool that goes in the dishwasher.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Two cuts from one tool
- Stated made in Italy
- Clear wheel size
Cons
- Hand wash only
- Wood needs oiling
- Small wheels for long strips
2. Norpro Grip-EZ Pastry and Ravioli Wheel – A Soft Grip for Long Sessions
Norpro puts a fluted wheel and a smooth wheel on one tool, and wraps the handle in soft Santoprene. It measures 7 by 3 by 0.75 inches, and Norpro says it weighs 0.24 pounds. The listing says the contoured handle suits left- or right-handed use and cuts ravioli, pasta dough, cookie dough and lattice crusts.
The handle is the reason to choose it. If you are cutting a tray of ravioli or a lot of strips, a thin steel handle can get tiring. Foods Guy, a food blog that lists this as its pick for straight and fluted edges, says the grip holds even when wet.
That blog also warns that the two wheels take some getting used to and feel less sturdy at first, and that the blade fixtures cannot be adjusted. It describes the tool as dishwasher safe, while Norpro’s page gives no care instructions, so we would hand wash it to be safe. The blog does not claim any testing, so read that as opinion rather than a measured result.
Why we like it
- Fluted and smooth wheels on one tool
- Soft Santoprene handle
- Suits either hand, per the listing
- Stated size and weight
Key specifications
| Model | 112 |
|---|---|
| Wheels | 2: fluted and smooth |
| Wheel size | Not stated |
| Length | 7 inches |
| Wheel material | Stainless steel |
| Handle | Santoprene |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Care | Not stated by Norpro |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone with sore hands, and anyone cutting a big batch at one sitting. A red version is sold too, if you prefer that color.
Skip it if you want the feel of steel or wood, or a single large wheel for long, straight strips.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Comfortable, non-slip handle
- Two cuts
- Light
Cons
- Feels less sturdy at first, per Foods Guy
- Wheel size not stated
- Care details missing
3. Norpro Crimp-Cut-Seal Pastry Wheel – Trims and Seals in One Roll
A plain wheel cuts. This one also presses the edges together. Norpro says that rolling the fluted wheel around a rim trims, crimps and seals the dough in one motion, which suits pie edges, turnovers, tarts, empanadas, dumplings and ravioli, where the filling has to stay inside.
It measures 7 inches overall with a 2.25-inch wheel, one of the larger wheels here. The stainless wheel is slotted, and the photo shows a textured collar beside the cutting edge, which is the part that presses the seal. The handle is solid hardwood. Norpro recommends hand washing.
The strength is also the limit. A wider head is awkward for fine lattice work, and it leaves a marked edge where you may want a clean one. Check for dough stuck in the slots after each use, and dry the head before you put it away. We read no independent review of this model, so this rests on the maker’s listing.
Why we like it
- Trims, crimps and seals in one motion, per Norpro
- Large 2.25-inch wheel
- Solid hardwood handle
- Suits hand pies and empanadas
Key specifications
| Model | 3248 |
|---|---|
| Wheels | 1 fluted crimping wheel |
| Wheel size | 2.25 inches |
| Length | 7 inches |
| Wheel material | Stainless steel |
| Handle | Hardwood |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Care | Hand washing recommended |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone making hand pies, turnovers or empanadas, where a leak ruins the batch. Use it after you have cut rounds with a cookie cutter or a plate and a knife.
Skip it if you mainly cut lattice strips; a slimmer wheel suits that better.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Seals as it cuts
- Large wheel
- Comfortable wood handle, per the listing
Cons
- Hand wash only
- One edge pattern
- Slots need cleaning
4. Marcato Atlas Pastawheel, 3 Wheels – Swap Wheels for Each Cut
Marcato makes the well-known Atlas pasta machines in Italy, and this is its pastry wheel. It has one handle and three wheels that swap by hand. The same model in other colors lists them as a straight cut, a tight zig-zag and a wide zig-zag, for ravioli, crostata, cookies and fresh pasta.
The pink listing we link is sparse, so most of these details come from Marcato’s listings for the same tool in black and grey, which are in shorter supply. Those give an anodized aluminum handle and food-safe plastic wheels on a chrome steel support. One of them words this as anodized aluminum and steel components, so the wording varies. The tool is about 6 inches long and made in Italy.
The cleaning is different from everything else here. Marcato says to take it apart, let the dough dry for at least 30 minutes, and clean it with a dry brush, so it should not go in water or the dishwasher. Plastic wheels will not suit a cook who wants a hard steel edge, but you do get three patterns from one handle. We read no independent review of this model.
Why we like it
- Three swappable wheels
- Made in Italy
- Straight and two zig-zag patterns
- Comes apart for cleaning
Key specifications
| Model | PW-RSA |
|---|---|
| Wheels | 3 interchangeable: straight, tight and wide zig-zag |
| Wheel size | Not stated |
| Length | About 6 inches |
| Wheel material | Food-safe plastic, per the same model in other colors |
| Handle | Anodized aluminum |
| Made in | Italy |
| Care | Let dry, then use a dry brush |
Why we recommend it
It suits home pasta makers who already own a pasta maker and want several decorative edges for one small tool in the drawer.
Skip it if you want a steel wheel, or a tool you can wash under the tap.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Three patterns
- Compact
- Italian made
Cons
- Plastic wheels
- Dry brush cleaning only
- Only the pink listing was in plain stock
5. R&M Deluxe Pastry Wheel, 7.25 Inch – The Biggest Plain Fluted Wheel
The largest wheel on this page is 2.375 inches across, on a tool 7.25 inches long. R&M, which makes baking tools and cookie cutters, gives it one fluted wheel in stainless steel and a dark plastic handle. A larger wheel covers more dough per turn, which helps when you are running long, even strips.
The listing calls it a cutter for all types of dough and names pasta, pie crust and pastry in its title. It says to hand wash in hot, soapy water and dry it thoroughly, or use the top rack of the dishwasher. That choice is useful, because the wood-handled picks here are hand wash only.
It is a simple tool, and the listing says little more. There is no straight wheel, the country of origin is not stated, and this pick rests on the listing and the maker’s details rather than any independent review. Dry it after washing, as R&M says, so that water does not sit in the joint.
Why we like it
- 2.375-inch wheel
- Top-rack dishwasher safe
- Plain plastic handle
- Stated size
Key specifications
| Model | 2715 |
|---|---|
| Wheels | 1 fluted |
| Wheel size | 2.375 inches |
| Length | 7.25 inches |
| Wheel material | Stainless steel |
| Handle | Plastic |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Care | Hand wash or top rack; dry thoroughly |
Why we recommend it
It suits bakers who cut long lattice strips and pasta ribbons and want the easiest care of the fluted picks. Roll your dough evenly with a good rolling pin first, because a wheel follows whatever is under it.
Skip it if you want a straight edge as well as a fluted one.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Largest wheel here
- Dishwasher option
- Clear stated size
Cons
- Fluted cut only
- Plastic handle
- Few maker details
6. Tescoma GrandChef Pastry Wheel – A Slim Steel Wheel for Fine Work
Tescoma is a Czech housewares brand. This GrandChef pastry wheel has a small fluted wheel on a thin neck, with a slim steel handle and a hanging loop. The size of the wheel in the photo makes it look more suited to fine work than to long strips, though Tescoma does not state its dimensions on this listing.
The listing is short and gives only three facts: stainless steel, a practical hanger and dishwasher safe. The dishwasher rating is rare among the steel picks here. A small wheel also turns tightly, which helps with curved edges on hand pies and small cookies.
This pick rests on those few listing details. We read no independent review of it, and Tescoma’s size and country of origin are not stated, so look at the photo and decide whether the proportions suit your hand. A thin steel handle will also feel harder than the Norpro’s soft grip in a long session.
Why we like it
- Stainless steel
- Dishwasher safe, per the listing
- Hanging loop
- Small wheel for tight curves
Key specifications
| Model | T428254 |
|---|---|
| Wheels | 1 fluted |
| Wheel size | Not stated |
| Length | Not stated |
| Wheel material | Stainless steel |
| Handle | Stainless steel |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Care | Dishwasher safe |
Why we recommend it
It suits bakers who do small decorative work and want an all-steel tool that can go in the dishwasher.
Skip it if you want to know the exact size before you buy, or you cut long strips.
Pros and cons
Pros
- All steel
- Dishwasher safe
- Hangs up to dry
Cons
- No sizes stated
- Fluted cut only
- Sparse listing
7. Norpro Stainless Steel Ravioli and Pastry Wheel – Two Wheels, All Polished Steel
This is the steel version of Norpro’s double wheel. Instead of a soft handle, it has a rounded polished handle with a hang hole, in what Norpro calls professional-gauge stainless steel. It measures 7 by 3 by 0.5 inches, with a fluted wheel and a flat wheel.
Norpro says it suits pasta, pastry and cookie dough, and names lattice crusts and ravioli among its uses. Cooks who dislike rubber grips may prefer it, since there is no soft material to wear out or trap flour. It is also thinner in the drawer than the Grip-EZ.
The listing does not state the wheel size or how to clean it, and it shows both part number 60 and model 52, so go by the title and the photo. We read no independent review of this model, so this pick rests on the listing.
Why we like it
- Fluted and flat wheels
- Stainless steel throughout, per the listing
- Rounded handle with a hang hole
- Slim in the drawer
Key specifications
| Model | 52 (also shown as part 60) |
|---|---|
| Wheels | 2: fluted and flat |
| Wheel size | Not stated |
| Length | 7 inches |
| Wheel material | Stainless steel |
| Handle | Stainless steel |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Care | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits people who want a straight and fluted cut in one tool and prefer plain steel to a rubber grip.
Skip it if you cut for long sessions; the Grip-EZ is softer on the hand.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No soft parts to wear out
- Two cuts
- Hang hole
Cons
- Harder on the hand
- Wheel size not stated
- Care not stated
How to choose a pastry wheel
A pastry wheel has few parts, so the choice comes down to the cut you want, the size of the wheel and how you will clean it.
1. Fluted, straight or both
A fluted wheel gives a wavy edge and suits lattice, ravioli and decorative cookies. A straight wheel gives a clean edge for strips and pasta ribbons. If you want both, a double-headed tool or the Marcato saves buying two. If you only want a fluted edge, a single wheel is simpler and has fewer parts to clean.
2. Wheel size
A larger wheel covers more dough per turn and runs straighter over long strips. A smaller wheel turns tighter curves, which helps with hand pies and small shapes. The wheels here run from 1.5 inches on the Fante’s to 2.375 inches on the R&M; several makers do not state a size, so compare the photos.
3. Cutting or sealing
An ordinary wheel cuts through dough but does not join two layers very firmly. If you are closing a filling inside, as with ravioli or empanadas, choose a tool sold for sealing, such as the Norpro Crimp-Cut-Seal, or the Fante’s, which the maker says cuts and seals. A dab of water or egg wash on the edge still helps.
4. Handle
Steel is easy to keep clean. Wood feels warm and needs oil now and then. A soft grip is kindest in long sessions but can wear with time. A hollow metal handle should be sealed, or water can get inside. If you are left-handed, check that the handle is round or symmetrical.
5. Cleaning
Dough dries in the joint of a wheel, so clean it soon after use. Only the R&M and Tescoma listings allow the dishwasher here, and the Marcato should be left to dry and then brushed. Check the care line before you buy, because it varies more than the cutting does.
6. Pastry wheel or pizza cutter
A pizza cutter has a larger, sharper wheel for crust and toppings, and it is the better tool for that job. A pastry wheel is smaller and finer, and only the pastry wheel gives a fluted edge. If you cut pasta sheets or pie strips rather than cooked pizza, the pastry wheel is the one you want.
How we picked these seven wheels
We started from what a working kitchen wants from a small tool: a cut that does not drag the dough, a joint that can be kept clean and a clear statement of the materials. We searched Amazon in the United States for wheels from identifiable makers and kept only those shown as in stock when we checked. Several wheels from Ateco, Paderno, Rösle, Küchenprofi and Tablecraft were low in stock or unavailable, so they are not here. We looked at each photo to confirm that the tool is a hand pastry wheel, which left out five-wheel dough dividers, pizza cutters and lattice rollers.
We searched for independent reviews and found affiliate roundups and no side-by-side comparison we could rely on, so these picks rest on makers’ details and listings. The one blog we quote, Foods Guy, does not claim to have tested anything. We left out a brass-wheeled Italian cutter because its listing says nothing about the alloy, and we skipped seller brands that rest only on their own listings, because these tools touch your food. We checked the CPSC recall database for these brands and found no recall of these products. We have not used any of these wheels ourselves.
Pastry wheel questions, answered
What is a pastry wheel used for?
It cuts rolled dough into strips and shapes. Common uses are lattice pie tops, ravioli, cookies, breadsticks and pasta ribbons. Fluted wheels add a decorative edge as they cut.
Is a pastry cutter wheel the same as a pastry blender?
No. A pastry cutter wheel rolls across dough to cut it. A pastry blender has wires or blades and cuts butter into flour. The names get mixed up, so check the photo. For the second tool, see our pastry dough blender guide.
Can I use a pastry wheel for ravioli?
Yes. Most of these picks name ravioli as a use. For filled pasta, choose one sold to seal as well as cut, press around the filling first and work on a lightly floured surface.
How do I cut straight lattice strips?
Chill the dough, then roll a ruler or a straight board along the sheet as a guide, and run the wheel against it. Keep the pressure even, and use a larger wheel if you can, because it holds a line better.
Can a pastry wheel go in the dishwasher?
Some can. The R&M allows the top rack and the Tescoma listing says dishwasher safe. The Fante’s and the Norpro crimper are hand wash, and the Marcato is cleaned with a dry brush. The others do not say, so hand wash them.
Our final pick for a neat edge
Buy the Fante’s for two cuts in a traditional tool, the Norpro Grip-EZ for long sessions, and the R&M for long fluted strips. Choose the Norpro Crimp-Cut-Seal for anything with a filling, and the Marcato for decorative pasta edges. Pair any of them with a good rolling pin, and cut on a board or counter rather than a silicone baking mat, which a sharp wheel can nick.
And if you would rather someone else did the baking tonight, see the menu or call to order.