Silicone baking mats are on sale
A Simple, Efficient and Nonskid Silicone Baking Mat with Measurements for Rolling and Baking Dough. I. Recipe: Making a King Cake
A food-grade silicone mat that measures 26-by-16-inches (though it does come in 3 different sizes), the Cook Time Silicone Non-Stick Pastry Baking Mat with Measurements can be used as a nonskid surface for rolling out dough, with convenient measurements provided, as well as an oven-safe baking mat for cookies, pie, pizza, and other baked goods. It costs a little and does a lot.
The main attribute of rolling dough is its flatness on a countertop. The mat is a little thicker than a penny, but it isn’t tough to roll and store in, because it isn’t big enough to lift dough around the countertop. Generally, dough should be worked as little as possible and the first time you measure it, you will be able to get it right. The conversion charts are less useful than I thought, but beginning bakers would appreciate them.
I personally cook most of my meals and desserts using dough because it is versatile, easy to make, and delicious. I prepared dozens of individual chicken pot pies, empanadas, and from-scratch pasta for lunches and dinners in the winter. I also make my own pizza crust fairly often, and bake cakes, pies and other desserts frequently as a hobby. I enjoy complicated recipes, and have been especially interested in bread and pastry doughs lately. The last baking project I did was making a King cake, which was for me to eat on my birthday, which falls around the same time of year. The recipe involved rolling out the dough and filling it with a sweetened cream cheese mixture, and I sadly had to use my old measuring tape to judge the correct length.
If the Cook Time Silicone Non-Stick Pastry Baking Mat only performed one function it would be a bargain, but other than that it does a good job.
The nonstick silicone surface also makes dough easy to lift off the mat when transferring to a dish or pan, which can be tricky with thin doughs, and also makes cleaning a breeze (although I found wiping down with a damp sponge sufficient, the mat is dishwasher safe).
