Help! My pastry hasn’t worked! What have I done wrong??

PROBLEM: Pastry is hard and tough SHORTCRUST PROBLEM: Pastry is hard and tough CAUSES= The ingredients were too warm Over kneading and heavy handling Incorrect proportions of ingredients e.g. too much water in shortcrust, too little in flaky Oven temperature too cool HOW TO PREVENT= chill ingredients, handle lightly, weigh and measure accurately, check oven temp

PROBLEM: Pastry is blistered SHORTCRUST PROBLEM: Pastry is blistered CAUSES= Uneven addition of water Oven temperature too hot Fats insufficiently and unevenly rubbed in to the flour HOW TO PREVENT= mix water in evenly, check rubbing in technique, check oven temp

PROBLEM: Pastry is fragile and crumbly when cooked SHORTCRUST CAUSES: Too much fat Over-rubbing the fat into the flour Too little water HOW TO PREVENT= weigh fat accurately and choose correct fat, do not over work pastry

PROBLEM: Pastry has shrunk during cooking SHORTCRUST CAUSES= Pastry has been stretched during preparation and rolling HOW TO PREVENT= let the pastry relax, handle lightly

PROBLEM: Pastry has not flaked well Flaky/rough puff PROBLEM: Pastry has not flaked well CAUSES= Oven temp too cool, so fat has melted and run out of the pastry before being absorbed by the starch. Steam has not been produced quickly enough Mixture was too dry Pastry has been rolled and folded unevenly with uneven addition of fat Fat has melted during preparation and the pastry has not had sufficient time to rest in a cool place HOW TO PREVENT= check oven temp, add sufficient liquid, roll evenly, allow to rest

PROBLEM: Pastry has risen unevenly Flaky/rough puff PROBLEM: Pastry has risen unevenly CAUSES= Fat has been added unevenly Pastry has been rolled and folded unevenly Pastry was tilted in the oven HOW TO PREVENT= add fat evenly, and ensure folding is even, check oven shelf is level

PROBLEM: Pastry has not risen well Choux PROBLEM: Pastry has not risen well CAUSES= Insufficient cooking time, therefore the steam has escaped and the pastry collapsed before it set Incorrect oven temperature Insufficient beating HOW TO PREVENT= accurate cooking time and oven temp, beat eggs in thoroughly