My mentor told me I was overworking my pie dough

She said I was developing too much gluten. I started using ice cold butter and handling it way less, now my crusts actually flake. Has anyone else had to unlearn bad habits from youtube videos?

3 comments

3 Comments

logan2361mo ago

Yeah that tracks, less is more when it comes to pie dough for sure.

alex3071mo ago

Consider what gluten development does for bread versus pie crust - bread wants that chewy structure, pie crust needs that tender flake. You're basically fighting against the same biological process but wanting opposite results. That mentor saved you years of frustration by pointing out the simple truth that good pie crust is about preventing gluten, not building it.

miles2791mo ago

Wait, you're saying I was wrong about needing cold water to develop gluten?