topic Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist! in Kitchen

Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

house_cat — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 19:18:27 GMT

Omgosh! Baking disaster!

Does anyone have a clue why the pie crust recipe I've been using for years was a hot mess today? I made the dough yesterday and kept it in the fridge overnight. This afternoon I tried to roll it out and it just kept breaking and splitting into a million fractures and pieces. It wasn't too dry... if anything, maybe a litttle on the wetter side. I just moved from dry southern California to the southeast and it's a very humid day here. Could the humidity play a part?

Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

SouthernBee — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 19:36:53 GMT

@house_cat : I can't make pie crust. I know that humidity does make a difference. My cream cheese pound cake will have a wide spot in the center of gummy not baked mixture. Plus my fudge and frosting will not be set.

Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

sabatini — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 19:37:16 GMT

Hi @house_cat !

I'm not a pie crust person, but I'd bet the weather did have something to do with it.

I recently had a pizza dough disaster! I live in Arizona, but was back east visiting my son in Boston and made a bunch of pizza. I used 2 of my tried and true recipes, and both were massive fails.

I too wondered if it was the humid weather, and also if somehow his gas oven cooked differently than my electric oven at home. ?

Anyway, I feel your pain!

Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

ECBG — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 21:29:16 GMT

@house_cat

Your pie crust may have been either too dry or too cold.

In Cali, everything was warmer and the air there effected things just like our air here.

If you still have the crust, try brushing a small amount of water on the surface, let it rest a minute and gently pat and roll the torn edges together.

On another note, our denim has just arrived as well as my most ever fav sweater from retail that is perfect for 3 seasons here and perfect for layering.

Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

Love my grandkids — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 20:05:47 GMT

I spent my first 61 years in So. Cal. and yes the weather does affect your pie crust.

I never could make a decent one so I always bought the refrigerated ones and got no complaints.

Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

RedTop — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 20:42:24 GMT

Humidity and elevation make a difference.

@SouthernBee

If you add a heaping teaspoon of cornstarch to any fudge recipe, you will never have soft fudge again.

Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

SouthernBee — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 20:46:59 GMT

@RedTop :Thank you . Will add this to my recipe book for future use.

@RedTop wrote:
Humidity and elevation make a difference.

@SouthernBee
If you add a heaping teaspoon of cornstarch to any fudge recipe, you will never have soft fudge again.

Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

Shem — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 20:53:38 GMT

Hi!!!! Culinary Arts teacher here!!! Just a hint or 2 that might help with your piecrust. When you refrigerate the pie pasrty form into a disk instead of a ball. This will help it chill evenly. . When cold, do not roll out but instead use your rolling oin and gently walk it over the crust 5 or 6 times to prevent cracking. Hope this helps!!!

Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

house_cat — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 21:34:44 GMT

Thanks, everyone!

@Shem So, you are an actual 🥧 chiatrist!

I do always make disks and it was thoroughly chilled. The dough was definitely not too dry, if anything it was wetter than usual. I may have attacked it too agressively with the roller when I started, because I was hurrying. I will be more gentle next time, as you described. It's puzzling because I've been using this recipe for years and had considered it to be foolproof. I guess this fool proved herself wrong, lol.

In any case, I pretty much threw the rest of the crust on top and baked it. I'm sure it will taste yummy and DH and I will enjoy it, but I'm glad I didn't make it for guests.

Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

ECBG — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 21:53:50 GMT

@house_cat

The pie looks delicious! If you had guests, you could have added a little bit of ice cream, or if apple, a sprinkling of cheese.

Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

ECBG — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 21:57:57 GMT

@Shem

Hi, and welcome to the boards!

I had training very similar to you but took the design route in Home Economics and spent my career with color and design. I did teach all both of our two foods offerings since my second major was chemistry. I was the healthy cook, lol!

I am a professional stylist now.

Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

lulu1 — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 22:49:33 GMT

Why sweat the small stuff? You can buy very good frozen pie crust. Recently I read an article that said for the price, you cannot beat Marie Callender.

I always have a package of 2 in the freezer. I crumble one, add sugar and a little flour for a great crumb topping on a homemade apple pie.

Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

sabatini — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 23:37:50 GMT

@lulu1 wrote:
Why sweat the small stuff? You can buy very good frozen pie crust. Recently I read an article that said for the price, you cannot beat Marie Callender.

I always have a package of 2 in the freezer. I crumble one, add sugar and a little flour for a great crumb topping on a homemade apple pie.

Hi @lulu1 !

I know that to a lot of people, making your own pie crust seems way too much of a pain. But to many others, doing that is a joy! Satisfying too.

Sure, I could easily order a pizza, but digging in to a homemade one is amazing!

Different strokes.

Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

River Song — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 00:52:50 GMT

@house_cat ,

If you leave a pie crust dough in the fridge overnight, you need to let it sit on the kitchen counter a minimum of 10 minutes, still wrapped in plastic wrap so it doesn't dry out, before attempting to roll it out.

A pie crust dough is typically formed into a flat disk, wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated for 1 hour. This allows the flour in the dough to become fully hydrated. The dough is then brought to room temperature by letting it sit on the counter, still wrapped. If the dough still seems a little stiff, gently pound the disk a few times with the rolling pin to soften.

Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

lulu1 — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 02:13:45 GMT

@sabatini wrote:
@lulu1 wrote:
Why sweat the small stuff? You can buy very good frozen pie crust. Recently I read an article that said for the price, you cannot beat Marie Callender.

I always have a package of 2 in the freezer. I crumble one, add sugar and a little flour for a great crumb topping on a homemade apple pie.
Hi @lulu1 !
I know that to a lot of people, making your own pie crust seems way too much of a pain. But to many others, doing that is a joy! Satisfying too.

Sure, I could easily order a pizza, but digging in to a homemade one is amazing!

Different strokes.

@sabatini

Your pizza looks scrumptious.

I don't always use frozen pie crusts; at times I enjoy making it from scratch. (and I make homemade pizza) Just a suggestion for those among us who either do not have the time, patience or skills to make homemade crust.

Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

house_cat — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 02:21:18 GMT

@River Song

Thank you for the explaination. I don't generally leave the dough overnight, which might have made the difference.

I should add that DH had a slice tonight and gave it 👍👍.

Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

Queen of shop — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 02:35:07 GMT

@house_cat wrote:
Thanks, everyone!
@Shem So, you are an actual 🥧 chiatrist!
I do always make disks and it was thoroughly chilled. The dough was definitely not too dry, if anything it was wetter than usual. I may have attacked it too agressively with the roller when I started, because I was hurrying. I will be more gentle next time, as you described. It's puzzling because I've been using this recipe for years and had considered it to be foolproof. I guess this fool proved herself wrong, lol.

In any case, I pretty much threw the rest of the crust on top and baked it. I'm sure it will taste yummy and DH and I will enjoy it, but I'm glad I didn't make it for guests.

@house_cat For all the trouble that crust gave you, that is one GOOD LOOKING pie! If I baked that for company I would have just said that it was "rustic". LOL

Would love to be able to share a piece with you. Enjoy it.

Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

house_cat — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 02:38:21 GMT

@Queen of shop

Thank you. The color is wrong in the photo... it actually looked quite good, though "rustic" as you so diplomatically put it!

Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

Shem — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 13:57:22 GMT

I agree!!!! The pie looks delicious!!!!

Re: Help! I need a 🥧 chiatrist!

suzyQ3 — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 16:42:21 GMT

My husband and I have lived in Socal all our lives. He is a wonderful baker; his pie crust are the best ever. I don't think that weather here (what we think of as humidity is nothing compared to elsewhere) has any detectable effect pie crusts.