BAKING BASICS
TIPS AND TRICKS TO ENSURE PERFECT BAKES EVERY TIME
COLD BUTTER
The butter MUST be cold
when incorporated into the
flour mixture for biscuits and pie
dough. During the baking process,
the butter melts and steams,
creating pockets in the dough
which result in flaky biscuits and
crusts. Warm butter will melt
before steaming, producing
a dense or tough
dough.This simple test is an easy
way to check whether your
yeasted bread dough has
been kneaded long enough.With lightly floured fingers, simply pinch off (don’t tear) a small
piece your of kneaded dough. Roll the piece of dough into a ball, and
then slowly stretch the piece with your fingers in small increments
starting from the center, rotating the dough a quarter turn with each
stretch. If the dough has been kneaded enough, you will be able to
stretch it into a thin, translucent sheet. If the dough piece tears
while stretching, continue to knead all the dough (30 seconds more
if kneading by hand, 1 minute if kneading with a mixer), and then
test again until ready.
Windowpane Test