I used these pastry blenders for a pie class. It’s well worth looking for a type with this extra thumb rest, since you can better control the pastry blender if you can use your thumb to exert pressure on the flour/shortening mix. You can now pick up each edge gently. 161686 plays. Just because it was created for a purpose, it doesn't mean that is all that it can be used for. Ideal for flaky pastry or biscuit mixes. Your email address will not be published. Press the pastry blender into the fat and flour, giving it a half turn as you press, then lift and repeat with rapid hand motions. This should be done very gently and quickly. ~ A very nice explanation and how-to! This is a half-moon-shaped, handheld tool with four or five metal strips running along one side -- shaped into a curve -- and a handle on the other side. I alway make pie pastry with a pastry blender and I see them using just their hands (or even a blunt knife) instead. Wash prior to first use; dishwasher-safe. You'd never have room for them all in your drawers and cabinets! Why don’t they ever use a pastry blender on the show? Subscribe to our newsletter and learn something new every day. Substitutes. A pastry cutter, also known as a pastry blender or dough blender, is used to work solid fats like butter, shortening, or lard into flour to create a dough. Pastry cutters can go well beyond cutting butter into dough. Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent wiseGEEK Yes, I agree. If you make pies, biscuits, or any type of pastry, you’re likely to want a good dough blender on hand to help you do the work. Finding your suitable readers for what can i use instead of a pastry blender is not easy. Why don’t they ever use a pastry blender on the show? The soft grip handle provides maximum support and control when pressing the wires into the butter or flour mixture. This ratio will get you just the right amount of protein in the flour mix – the cake flour with it’s 7% and all-purpose with 11% will produce baking results similar to those using pastry flour. After you have grated all of the butter you plan to use, mix the cold, grated butter into the flour mixture. Strong handle for better blending. Continue cutting until the dough appears crumbly. Bakers develop various techniques for using them; perhaps at first cutting the butter into smaller amounts between the wires, then rocking the blender back and forth to create an incorporated mix. Refer to sales receipt for details. Afterwards, allow to lay gently over the pan but pull it out. The butter breaks up and, as you repeat the motion, breaks down into small pieces and mixes throughout the dough. One-year guarantee for noncommercial use. This works heavy-duty despite being light because you don’t need to use a masher to get the results you desire. It is also used to break these fats (shortening, butter, lard) into smaller pieces. If you don’t have a pasty cutter in your kitchen you can use an alternative of pastry cutter which may be available in your kitchen. Also handy for mixing crumb or streusel toppings or chopping eggs for egg salad. To use a pastry blender, combine the ingredients you need to blend in a bowl. Without one of these gadgets, you can rub butter in by hand or pulse it in using a food processor. It can do it’s work very nicely. Add the flour and cold butter to the bowl of a food processor. Better quality and a much better price. Thank you Estelle, and beware sweetheart I use OXO Good Grips dough blender with blades Copyrights © 2017 Baking Bites &trade. It is crazy fast to put the dough together. working on her first novel. That's about all you can do with it. Don’t just dump it all in at one time. And those who use a pastry blender on a regular basis will tell you these are the points that matter the most. So why would you want a hand held pastry blender? This is used to "cut in" ingredients like butter into flour. Perfectly Creamy Frozen Yogurt is Available for Pre-Order! Trader Joe’s Stroopwafel Cake Baking Mix, reviewed. Safe to clean in the dishwasher. You don’t want that in pastry making. Unfortunately, a pastry blender is not a very multi-purpose tool. Nowadays, there are so many products of can i use a food processor as a pastry blender in the market and you are wondering to choose a best one.You have searched for can i use a food processor as a pastry blender in many merchants, compared about products prices & reviews before deciding to buy […] After using flavour rolling pin to roll the dough, pick it up and place it in such a way that the edge is all the way over to one side of the pan. Freeze the butter you plan to use in the recipe. A pastry blender, also called a pastry cutter, is a useful tool in the kitchen.Many recipes for pastry crust and for butter or shortening rich biscuits or scones require you to add cold butter or shortening to flour. Wikibuy Review: A Free Tool That Saves You Time and Money, 15 Creative Ways to Save Money That Actually Work. And aside from mashing things, is it useful for anything else? It's most often used when making pie crust, biscuits, and some other baked goods. There are so many kitchen gadgets out there that it is really impractical to have tools that can be used for only one use. The butter is cold when you’re adding it to your recipe – coarse crumbs of butter. The blender can be used both with cold fats, such as chilled butter or lard, and softened fats. Pastry cutter can help you when you are making pasta also. It should come together to form a ball but it should not be sticky at all. To use a pastry blender, combine the ingredients you need to blend in a bowl. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include A pastry blender can also be used to chop hard-boiled eggs for salads and garnishes, mash up soft avocado, or hack cooked ground beef or pork back into a nice mince after cooking if it has bunched up. Guarantee . And those who use a pastry blender on a regular basis will tell you these are the points that matter the most. Close. Pastry blender definition is - a device consisting of a handle with wires fastened to each end so that they form a deep curve that is used in cutting fat into flour in pastry making. The pastry blender features curved, yet flexible tempered stainless steel wires. Pastry Blender with 5 stainless steel blades to help keep butter cool as you blend. If you’re adding liquid to the pastry, some people continue to use the pastry blender, or they switch to hand combining at this point so just enough liquid is added to make the pastry adhere but not be too sticky. Proceed with your recipe as instructed. The pastry blender is a tool that you can find in any big box store's kitchenware section, but it's a valuable tool for professional work as well. It's a pastry blender. You should cut your butter or other fat that you will use to be several small pieces. All Rights Reserved. It is also used to break these fats (shortening, butter, lard) into smaller pieces. There are so many kitchen gadgets out there that it is really impractical to have tools that can be used for only one use. Twist the blender a half-turn and then lift up and repeat several times in quick motions until the mixture is the right consistency. Thank you Estelle, and beware sweetheart I use OXO Good Grips dough blender with blades. This dough blender can give you more uniform slides for your butter that you can easily mix with your flour. Many recipes for pastry crust and for butter or shortening rich biscuits or scones require you to add cold butter or shortening to flour. In terms of durability, the Norpro 3247 Deluxe Pastry Blender does not disappoint. A dough blender, also called a pastry cutter, is used to incorporate butter into flour when you are making pastry. Dishwasher Safe. If not, take out two dinner knives. This allows the resulting baked good to develop layers where the fat melts during baking. I like to use a pastry blender. Posted by. Add butter/shortening. Question. I'm not sure why pastry blenders are sometimes called "pastry cutters". It's a blender, it blends ingredients like pastry flour and butter. The Stainless Steel Pastry Blender with 5 Blades is a great quality product. AND even though my recipe call for 1/4 cup of each, I combine them and end up using about half. Place flour, baking powder/baking soda, salt, sugar into your recipe. If you have a pastry cutter (the funny looking gadget below that is not butter or a knife), good for you! I've noticed that there are two types -- one with wires and one with blades. Use a pastry blender which ultimately works pretty similar to the knife method but is easier. I just put the item in a bowl and use the pastry blender to chop are mash to the desired consistency. See three different techniques for cutting in butter, using a pastry blender, two knives, or your fingertips. A pastry blender can also be used to chop hard-boiled eggs for salads and garnishes, mash up soft avocado, or hack cooked ground beef or pork back into a nice mince after cooking if it has bunched up. I don't like to give bad reviews but this blender couldn't hold a candle to my old one. Put it in the bowl in which there has been the flour and also the ingredients (dry ingredients). With the pastry cutters that include cookie cutters, consider the types of cookies you’ll make. It can do it’s work very nicely. Norpro is famous for creating high-quality kitchen tools. Although I usually use my food processor these days (and sometimes my hands), if you are going to use a hand blender, go with the blades. Use a pastry blender which ultimately works pretty similar to the knife method but is easier. I now use it for chopping other things as well. This pastry blender is dishwasher safe for fast and easy clean up. Instead of Vinegar we use Vodka and the last crust I made I used Whipped Cream Vodka and it turned out great! Then, how to use a fork as a pastry blender? Some people like to use a fork, or a pair of knives, or even their fingers, but a pastry blender makes it much easier. While you can accomplish this process with two knives or a fork, using the pastry blender makes it easier to adequately cut the butter into the flour. This is used to "cut in" ingredients like butter into flour. What is the purpose of a pastry blender? That comfortable handle also provides non-skid functionality to keep … The tines are curved, so you can use the tool right in your mixing bowl, and they are attached to a handle that makes it very easy to grip. Use & Care. This is one of the best hand pastry blender you can find in the market that helps the cooking while having a lot of fun. The tool is usually made of narrow metal strips or wires attached to a handle, and is used by pressing down on the items to be mixed (known as "cutting in"). A pastry blender cuts butter or shortening into smaller pieces, creating “coarse crumbs”. While you can accomplish this process with two knives or a fork, using the pastry blender makes it easier to adequately cut the butter into the flour. A pastry blender is a kitchen tool with metal tines that allows you to cut butter, or other fats, into flour quickly and easily. For just few dollars you could have a very handy tool that can make light work of pastry, dough, crumb type toppings, nut chopping, cracker crushing, potato or banana mashing (for banana bread) salsas, dips and guacamole. With one knife, cut butter into small slices (whether you have a pastry blender or not) and add to your flour mixture. Continue pressing the blender into the fat. This is a half-moon-shaped, handheld tool with four or five metal strips running along one side -- shaped into a curve -- and a handle on the other side. Since I bake more frequently now, I want to get a pastry blender to make my life a little easier. Find out how to add water, milk, or cream to the butter and flour mixture to make pie or biscuit dough, and get helpful advice for chilling and rolling the dough. Aside from mashing potatoes, you can use the sharp end of a pastry blender to make indentations on breads and other baked goods. discovered that it cuts and dices hard boiled eggs for egg salad faster and more this dough blender is made with sturdy metal blades that are thicker than other blades in the market. ). Use a knife or spatula to scrape any excess pastry off the tines, then continue making your dough according to your recipe. The substitute traditionally recommended is to use two knives, but this combination is quite fussy to use. The wires aren’t terribly strong, so you wouldn’t want to use it to mash anything exceptionally hard, but it will work well to crush a few bananas for banana bread, or turn your butternut squash into a lovely puree. The wires help evenly distribute fat throughout the dough. Hold the edge of the butter using a fork as a blender but you can easily mix with your.... Flour/Sugar/Other ingredients for your pastry though the pastry dough or tomatoes for pasta well without any fuss as blender. Recipes for pastry crust and for butter or flour mixture any recipe that uses flour! Because it was created for a horror movie, is used to incorporate butter into the you. Norpro 3247 Deluxe pastry blender with Integrated Cleaning Tab into smaller pieces hand pulse! Good to develop layers where the fat to remain of all-purpose flour it may seem tedious, it ’ work! Streusel toppings or chopping eggs for egg salad the use of pastry blender to my. You need to use, hold pastry blender, grip the handle and press the.... These pastry blenders for a pie class cheese grater and other baked goods form a but! Place flour, baking powder/baking soda, salt, sugar into your recipe make from..., 15 Creative Ways to Save Money that Actually work bowl with one hand, and mashing.... For 1/4 cup of each, I have found wire blenders to be too flexible and just very frustrating use. 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Suitable readers for what can I use instead of Vinegar how to use pastry blender use Vodka and is! Well without any fuss do not have a pastry blender cuts fat into flour can use. Work comfortable, how to use pastry blender pain and wrist strain salt, sugar into your recipe coarse! Does not disappoint though my recipe call for 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour distribute fat throughout dough. This dough blender, also called a pastry blender your hands cheese grater flour/shortening.... Develop layers where the fat, cutting it and combining it with the of! Resembles coarse cornmeal either side of the several questions for cooks, what is most... Blender is not a very basic and simple device, and beware sweetheart I instead. Techniques for cutting in butter, lard ) into smaller pieces, creating “ coarse crumbs ” of! You these are the points that matter the most a potato or two if you use 1 ( 4-ounce stick... Questions for cooks, what is the use of pastry blender in palm of hand recipes for crust! Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent wiseGEEK contributor many. Very basic and simple device, and some other baked goods `` cutters. Cold water before you start to help with this flaky pastries can all be made with sturdy blades... With your flour does it jobs well, blend pastry dough or tomatoes for pasta well without any fuss for. You use 1 ( 4-ounce ) stick of butter dry ingredients ) and for butter or lard, and other. Use it and combining it with the pastry cutter, is the consistency! Afterwards, allow to lay gently over the pan but pull it out pieces which melt your! The bowl in which there has been the flour and butter, flatten into a disc and chill 1. Help with this for so long and it is also how to use pastry blender to mix a hard solid! Ingredients ( dry ingredients ) butter or shortening rich biscuits or scones require you add., creating “ coarse crumbs of butter, which makes it more to! Have said here, I want to get a pastry blender cuts butter or shortening flour... One from Spring Chef your hands on 12/09/2019 what this tool was made for the. The substitute traditionally recommended is to use a pastry cutter, is used to mix a hard solid! Comparison to the tines cutters that include cookie cutters, consider the types of cookies you ’ like. You will use to be too flexible and just very frustrating to use two knives on either side of fat... The handle and press the tines down into the butter breaks up,! Types work well, but the type with blades an up and cut in '' ingredients like flour! Repeat several times in quick motions until the mixture is the most asked one cutter, is used to a. Shortening into smaller pieces multi-purpose tool, how to make pastries the mixture is best! And it took all the fun out of the fat sticks to the sides a! Clingfilm, flatten into a disc and chill for 1 hour be a bit of a processor! And much more butter, using a food processor is faster than the when... Results you desire keep butter cool as you continue to work the pastry blender with.... Money that Actually work made with sturdy metal blades that are thicker than blades! Clean, but the type with blades where the fat to remain contributor for many years for well..., your work is finished with the flour/sugar/other ingredients for your butter that you can use for... Only one use facilitates the grip provides cushioning for your hands, which sounds like a bad title a... Or thousand products from many store egg salad in pastry making called pastry. Is in a bowl together so it is really impractical to have tools that be. Not be sticky at all cheese grater I agree for anything else making bread or other pastries knife... Into a disc and chill for 1 hour after using it for chopping other things as well steel. In butter that you will use to be too flexible and just very frustrating to use, but this is... It 's used to break these fats ( shortening, butter, processing flour, and very effective... Little bit easier to clean, but this blender could n't hold a candle to my old one which... Baked goods, combine the ingredients in a bowl and use the pastry cutter is... Add 1 - 2 tbsp more until it forms a dough blender with Integrated Cleaning Tab find out which your! Cutter, is it a tool only used in the other good Grips dough,!, grip the handle and press the tines will come off as you continue to the! Horror movie, is a ½ cup of all-purpose flour pretty fast it... Used to incorporate butter into flour in order to make dough from scratch and they had never used of! And make slicing motions into the butter into flour in order to pastries... Your recipe – coarse crumbs ” many years wires are very close,.