What Is Puff Pastry and How Do You Use It? Tips and More + 5 Puff Pastry Video Recipes

I'm not sure about you, but the words savory puff pastry make my mouth water. Puff pastry dough is one of my favorite ingredients. I really enjoy cooking with it.

Puff pastry dough is a go-to for me whether I'm creating something sweet or savory.

What Is Puff Pastry?

Puff pastry, also known as pâte feuilletée, is a flaky, light pastry prepared from a layered dough of dough and butter or another solid fat. Before baking, the butter is inserted into the dough, forming a paton that is repeatedly folded and rolled out.

The water turning into steam during the baking process pushes the spaces that emerge between the layers left by fat melting.

Prepare Your Puff Pastry

The majority of puff pastry is sold in rolled or folded sheets. If the pastry is frozen rather than chilled, let it defrost thoroughly before using it, preferably overnight in the refrigerator. Gently unroll or unfold the pastry.

Roll out puff pastry on a lightly floured board using a gently floured rolling pin to prevent sticking. Brush away any extra flour with a soft brush. If you're cooking a sweet recipe, you can substitute sugar or cinnamon sugar for flour, and finely grated cheese can be used in cheese recipes.

Avoid rolling puff pastry too thin, especially if preparing a pie, because the crust has to be robust enough to support the toppings while remaining crisp.

Puff Pastry Refrigeration

If you're a daredevil who produced your own puff pastry, congratulations. Second, handmade, unbaked puff pastry may be stored in the fridge for up to three days wrapped firmly in plastic wrap.

Puff Pastry Freezing

Puff pastry may be frozen for up to a month if firmly covered in plastic wrap. If you buy a pack of frozen foods from the store, simply place the box in the freezer. It will be valid till the expiration date on the package.

How to Keep Baked Puff Pastry Fresh

Plain puff pastry may be stored in an airtight container for up to a week after baking. Filled pastries, such as these puff pastry danishes, are best eaten immediately. If you can't complete a batch in one sitting, put it in an airtight container and eat it the next day.