We all know that homemade pastry is better, as well as cheaper than storebought pastry, however, we also know that it can be a little bit overwhelming and frustrating to make the pastry. Here are some tips on what you will need to make the perfect homemade pastry:
Contents
1. Before you start
As with all baking projects, you will need to be prepared before you start. It will make the entire project quicker and easier for you. Of course, first, you will need to choose the recipe that you would want to make and familiarize yourself with the ingredients and steps that are involved. Depending on your preferences, you can use basic pastry recipes or rich pastry recipes. Gather all the ingredients needed and for a good result, make sure that you measure everything, especially the flour and butter. Also, do not forget the egg wash to give your pastry that golden shine that you can see in all the bakeries. You could also use the egg wash substitute which is unsweetened, non-sticky, and ready to use.
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2. Gather your equipment
The next thing to do is to gather all the equipment you will need. As mentioned before, having everything ready to use means that you will make the pastry faster. You will most likely need a large bowl, a rolling pin, a dinner knife, a spatula, and a plastic wrap.
3. Keep everything cool
The golden rule of preparing pastry is to keep all the ingredients, bowl, surface, and your hands cool. When the mixture for the pastry becomes warm, you will not get the results you wanted, instead, you will get a greasy, dull pastry crust. Before mixing the pastry, run your hands under cold water, you could do this several times if your hands get warm when mixing. If it is a hot summer day, do not forget to put the butter in the fridge from time to time, to make sure it stays firm. Also, roll the pastry on a cool surface, dusted with flour.
4. Work fast
Your pastry will be better if you work quickly. It will turn out light and crispy as well. This is why gathering everything you need before starting to work on your pastry is important.
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5. Rest the pastry dough
Once you have prepared the dough, you will need to wrap it in a plastic wrap or a greaseproof paper. After you have finished that, rest the dough in the fridge for a minimum of 20 minutes. By resting the dough, it will allow the gluten in the dough to relax. If you try rolling the dough right after you have finished mixing it, it will be like you are trying to roll a sheet of play-doh. You will be able to roll it, however, after several seconds it will return to its original shape. Also, once you have rolled it, rest the dough again. If you bake the pastry that has been rolled, but not rested, it will most likely shrink in the oven.
6. Always remember to heat the oven
You should always put your pastry in a preheated oven (425° F or 220° C). If the oven is not hot enough, the pastry will melt, rather than bake.
7. Make sure that the bottom is crispy
No one likes a soggy pastry bottom. To make sure that everything is nice and crispy, place a baking sheet in the oven while it is heating up for your pastry. When everything is ready, place the pastry dough directly onto the heated tray.
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Conclusion
If you want your pastry to come out of the oven looking like something from a bakery window, you should follow these steps.
