My sister's blunt comment fixed my pie crust problem

She tasted my apple pie last Thanksgiving and just said 'the crust is tough, like a cracker.' I was mad for a day but then I realized she was right. I had been overworking the dough because I thought more mixing meant more flaky layers. Now I stop mixing as soon as the butter chunks are pea sized and my crusts actually come out tender. Anyone else get a harsh baking critique that actually made them better?

3 comments

3 Comments

margaretm231mo ago

Is it really that big of a deal if your crust is a little tough?

rileynelson1mo ago

yeah but it kinda is tbh. a tough crust usually means your dough wasn't hydrated enough or you overbaked it. even a slightly dry crust can mess up the whole texture game, especially if you're reheating leftovers. try spritzing the loaf with water before you pop it in the oven next time, it helps keep that outer layer from getting like a rock.

ben_nguyen19d ago

Man, @margaretm23 you'd be surprised! My buddy Marcus tried reheating his homemade sourdough in the microwave once and the crust turned into literal shrapnel, crumbled all over his plate. Took him forever to get the texture right after that, so yeah, a tough crust can totally kill the vibe.