Frequent question: How do you cut pastry for baking?

What do I use if I don’t have a pastry blender?

Two butter knives – Two knives held together at an angle may be substituted for a pastry blender when cutting in butter. Use the knives to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the pieces of flour-coated butter become smaller and have the texture of coarse crumbs.

Is pastry a wheel?

A pastry wheel is a tool which is used to cut, shape, or mold pastry. Pastry wheels come in a number of forms, from cutters which are designed to produce uniform strips of pastry to pie crimpers. … Crimpers can be used to create fluted, ruffled edges while closing pastries like turnovers and pies.

How do you cut in shortening without a pastry blender?

Use two table knives if you do not have a pastry blender. Hold a knife in each hand and make slicing motions into the flour/shortening mixture. Continue cutting until the dough appears crumbly.

Can I use a potato masher instead of a pastry blender?

While visiting my sister last week, she wanted to try a new recipe I brought along. We used her POTATO MASHER instead with outstanding results! … The ingredients were blended quickly with a minimum of mess!

What is the purpose of a pastry blender?

Simply a series of curved blades or wires attached to a handle, a pastry blender—like Martha’s own tool ($22, macys.com)—is designed for the sole purpose of gradually cutting cold butter into flour without over-blending or heating it up.

What are the three basic cutting techniques?

The Four Basic Knife Cutting Techniques

• Dicing: Dicing is making a cut into a cube-shape. …
• Mincing: Mincing is a fine, non-uniform cut. …
• Julienne: This cut looks like a matchstick and has the nickname “shoestring.” This cut is usually used for vegetables like celery and onion.