My grandma's pie crust trick actually makes sense now after 10 years of ignoring it

I always thought my grandma was just being extra with her ice water method for pie dough. Last weekend I was making a double crust apple pie for a bake sale and my dough kept tearing on me. She told me to stop using tap water and get a bowl of ice cubes melting, then use that water. Tried it with a cheap plastic pastry cutter from Walmart and my crust came out flaky for the first time ever. Has anyone else had a old family trick click way later than it should have?

3 comments

3 Comments

bell.taylor1mo ago

You ever have one of those moments where you realize your grandma wasn't just being a weirdo, she was actually a pastry wizard? My mom used to yell at me for using warm tap water, and I thought she was just making stuff up to annoy me. Took me about five ruined pie crusts and one very sad cherry pie to finally listen. Now I keep a bag of ice cubes in my freezer specifically for pie dough, and I feel like a mad scientist every time. It's amazing what a little cold water and some crushed ice can do for your pastry.

linda_clark1mo ago

I mean, it's just pie crust, right? Not exactly rocket science. I've used tap water my whole life and nobody died.

tyler61423d ago

Three ruined crusts in one weekend is what finally got me to listen. I thought my grandma was just being dramatic when she'd fish ice cubes out of her drink for the dough. Now I keep a bag of frozen peas in the freezer just for pie crust, which makes me look like a crazy person when people open the freezer for dinner.

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