Frozen puff pastry. It’s the reliable fluffy, light pastry that bakers all over the country, and world, turn to for making cookies, snacks, and even delicious full dinners.
Puff pastry is basically different layers of dough, typically butter, but sometimes shortening. It is also referred to as laminated dough.
When cooked, it can become a beautiful golden color, especially if you add some egg wash over unbaked pastry.
Making puff pastry at home is possible, but it’s much easier to buy it in store in its frozen form. It is usually available in the freezer section of most supermarkets and gourmet food stores.
Most people get a chill down their spine when they’re told to use a frozen version of an ingredient, as it doesn’t always have the same quality. But, this is not the case with frozen puff pastry.
Frozen puff pastry is easier to handle and is typically good quality. Once you defrost puff pastry sheets, they can give you wonderful flaky layers for easier cooking.
The only issue with puff pastry that is frozen is that you will need to thaw it out before use. It is easy to try and speed this process up, but the result can be disastrous if rushed.
If you defrost puff pastry too quickly, it could end up broken or cracked when being unfolded.
Sometimes, it may not rise as well as you would like, either. But, when thawed properly, puff pastry can have a wonderful taste and be easy to work with.
If you’re looking for ways to defrost puff pastry sheets, you’re in the right place. Today, we are going to guide you through the thawing process, so your puff pastry is the best it can possibly be.
How To Defrost Frozen Puff Pastry
In The Fridge
You need to be rather careful with how you defrost puff pastry. One of the first steps you need to take is to ensure that the dough and butter are separated.
Place them on a counter, side-by-side to organize properly, and then place your sheets onto a plate. Then, cover these with a plastic wrap.
Whatever method you use to defrost puff pastry, you should always thaw puff pastry in a cool place, and slowly.
Pastry sheets usually come in packages and then folded in threes. If they are inside plastic wrap, you will find it hard to remove them without defrosting the sheets first.
In general, this will take around six or eight hours, when thawed in a refrigerator.
The best, and also the slowest method, is to throw your frozen puff pastry in the fridge to thaw out overnight.
However, if you’re out all day for work, it should defrost by the time you get home, if you throw it in the fridge before you head out for the day.
You can place an entire box of puff pastry in your fridge, but on occasions, you may only have one sheet to do at a time. For one sheet, wrap it and place in the refrigerator overnight.
Removing the puff pastry from its packaging is also an important step in defrosting it sufficiently. We recommend removing it from its packaging and placing it onto a baking tray.
Then, leave it in the fridge for a thorough thaw, especially if you’re in a rush.
At Room Temperature
If you’re in a real hurry, there is a way to defrost puff pastry quicker. Whether you’re thawing one sheet or many sheets, you can defrost your puff pastry at room temperature with little fuss.
Simply, take the dough from its box, and keep a close watch on it by pressing its surface every 15 or 20 minutes. Within an hour or so, your puff pastry should have thawed at room temperature.
Also, do not use warm water to defrost your pastry sheets, as it may not rise when being cooked. Too much moisture can ruin your puff pastry.
And, do not allow your dough to get very soft. As long as it is soft enough to unfold and roll, it should be ready for use.
You can, however, place the dough in a zip lock plastic bag and immerse it in cold water. This can speed up the thawing process, too.
And, another important tip – never defrost your puff pastry in the microwave, as it will likely become gummy and unusable.
What To Do Once Your Puff Pastry Sheets Have Thawed
Whether your puff pastry has completely thawed in the refrigerator or at room temperature, you need to be carefully when handling it once it is ready for use.
You need to check for any cracks in the dough. If there are any present, simply sprinkle with some water and then press the layers together to seal the dough properly.
After this, you can roll, fold, and shape the puff pastry as you desire or how your recipe guides you.
You should use a heavy, long rolling pin to roll your puff pastry out. Just avoid pressing down with too much force when rolling the edges and ends of your pastry.
If you want a more golden hue to your puff pastry, though, try brushing some egg wash on top (one beaten egg and a tablespoon of water).
Then, following your recipe’s baking instructions to create your masterpiece!
Once you bake your puff pastry in the oven, this simple buttery pastry can be transformed into delicious crispy desserts and even used for popular French foods, such as croissants.
In Summary
Puff pastries are hugely important for many dishes, whether they are snacks or main meals. It’s truly incredible what you can achieve with simple puff pastry dough.
Whilst thawing puff pastry out can be quite time-consuming, the result is almost always worth it.
Just follow our guidelines above, and you can manipulate puff pastry into a whole array of sweet or savory treats.
