Last Updated on January 31, 2023
Making pastry from scratch can be a daunting task. But with the right tools and ingredients, it doesn’t have to be. Making pastry in a food processor is actually quite simple – you need to know how. We’ll show you all the steps necessary so that your finished product will look like something out of a bakery window. From gathering your ingredients, preparing your food processor, making the dough itself, and finally chilling it for later use, we’ve got everything covered when it comes to making pastry in a food processor. So let’s get started on this delicious journey together and make some amazing pastries from home.
Table of Contents:
- Making The Pastry Dough
- Chilling The Dough
- FAQs in Relation to How to Make Pastry in a Food Processor
- Conclusion
Making the Pastry Dough
Making pastry dough in a food processor is an easy and efficient way to create the perfect crust for your pies, tarts, quiches, and more. To get started, you will need: all-purpose flour, salt, cold butter or shortening cut into cubes, ice water and a food processor.
Gather Your Ingredients
Before you begin making the pastry dough in your food processor, gather together all of the ingredients needed. You will need 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, 8 tablespoons of cold butter or shortening cut into cubes, 6 tablespoons of ice water. It’s important that these ingredients are as cold as possible, so they don’t melt when added to the mix.
Prepare Your Food Processor
Once you have gathered your ingredients together, prepare your food processor by adding in the dry ingredients first – 2 1/2 cups of flour and one teaspoon of salt – then pulse until combined. Next, add in either 8 tablespoons cold butter or shortening cut into cubes (or both), pulsing until pea-size pieces form. Now slowly add 6 tablespoons of ice water while pulsing until just combined; be careful not to overmix. If necessary, add an additional tablespoon(s) if needed but do not exceed 10 total tablespoons. The mixture should look like wet sand with no dry spots remaining when done correctly.
Making the Dough
Once the dough is ready, it should be wrapped in cling film and placed in the fridge to chill for at least an hour before rolling it out. Now that the pastry dough is prepared, let’s move on to chilling it properly.
Chilling The Dough
Chilling your pastry dough is an important step in the baking process. It helps to relax the gluten strands, which makes it easier to roll out and shape. This also helps keep the dough from shrinking when baked, resulting in a flaky crust with even layers of butter or fat throughout.
When making pastry dough, you should always chill it before rolling it out for the best results. The most common way to do this is by wrapping the dough tightly in plastic wrap and placing it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight). If you’re short on time, you can also place your wrapped-up dough into a freezer bag and freeze it for 15 minutes instead.
If you’re using chilled ingredients such as cold butter or cream cheese, then chilling your pastry dough isn’t necessary; however, if these ingredients are room temperature, then chilling will help ensure that they don’t melt too quickly during baking and create pockets of air inside your crusts.
It’s also important to note that over-chilling can be just as detrimental as not chilling enough; if left too long in the fridge or freezer, your pastry may become brittle and difficult to work with. To avoid this issue altogether, try working quickly while handling chilled pastries so that they stay cool but pliable enough for shaping without becoming overly stiffened by cold temperatures.
FAQs in Relation to How to Make Pastry in a Food Processor
Can you use a food processor for pastry?
Yes, you can use a food processor for pastry. A food processor is an incredibly versatile kitchen appliance that can be used to make all kinds of recipes, including pastry. It’s perfect for quickly and easily blending ingredients together, making it ideal for creating doughs and batters. With the right attachments, such as a dough blade or disc, you can also knead your dough in the food processor with ease. Just remember to add your liquids slowly, so you don’t overwork the mixture.
Which blade to use for pastry in a food processor?
Choosing the right blade for pastry in a food processor is important. The best option is usually the metal ‘S’ blade, which will provide you with an even and consistent texture when processing dough. If your food processor has other blades specifically designed for pastry, such as a plastic or rubber-coated one, these can also be used but may not give you quite the same results. When using any of these blades, make sure to pulse rather than run continuously to avoid overworking the dough and creating too much heat.
Can you use a food processor instead of a pastry blender?
Yes, a food processor can be used instead of a pastry blender. A food processor is great for mixing and blending ingredients quickly and easily. It has multiple blades that rotate at different speeds to create the desired texture. However, it may not produce as light and fluffy results as a pastry blender because it does not incorporate air into the mixture as a pastry blender does. Additionally, using too much liquid in the food processor could make your dough tough or gummy. So if you are looking for light and flaky pastries, opt for a pastry blender instead of a food processor.
Is it better to make pie crust in a food processor or by hand?
It really depends on personal preference and the recipe you are using. If you’re looking for a flaky, buttery crust, making it by hand is often recommended, as it allows you to better control the texture of the dough. On the other hand, if time is an issue or you want a more uniform result, then using a food processor can be beneficial. Ultimately, both methods will yield delicious results – so experiment with each one and decide which works best for your needs.
Conclusion
Making pastry in a food processor is a great way to save time and energy when baking. With the right ingredients, preparation and techniques, you can make delicious homemade pastry dough quickly and easily. Whether you’re making pies or tarts, your finished product will be sure to impress. So don’t hesitate to give it a try today. You’ll be glad you did when you see how easy it is to make pastry in a food processor.
Paul is the type of person who never met a problem he couldn’t fix. He can always be found tinkering with something in his house, even if it isn’t broken! His tips and tricks are often shared on our site. He’s the one you call when something breaks because he has been known to improvise fixes for everything from leaky faucets to malfunctioning dryers.