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Ice-cold water

Discussion in 'Pastries & Baking' started by pcieluck, Mar 9, 2011.

  1. Mar 9, 2011 #1
    pcieluck

    pcieluck

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    I have a few recipes in my books that call for ice-cold water. Any good reason for this, and can I just use 90* water instead if, on a whim, i wanted dough ready in a half hour?
     
  3. Mar 9, 2011 #2
    phatch

    phatch Moderator Staff Member

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    Most recipes I'm familiar with want cold water for pastry purposes. Cold water helps retard toughness in the dough and keeps the fat from misbehaviing.

    The other half of resting these pastry doughs is you're alllowing the flour to hydrate. The small amount of water hasn't had a chance to distribute itself evenly.

    I don't think you'd have the success you're looking for with this substitution.
     
  4. Mar 9, 2011 #3
    chefedb

    chefedb

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    Ice water also retards the butter or margarine or shortning from breaking down. Example puff pastry , I don't think would work using warm water
     
  5. Mar 9, 2011 #4
    brianshaw

    brianshaw

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    There is such a thing as hot-water pastry, but it is a thing unto itself and (my opinion) not nearly as good as regualr pastry made with ice-cold water and a gentle hand.  Think of it this way... for many generations before us pastry makers have been using ice-cold water.  There must be a good reason!

    When I need to bang out a pie in a rush I still use ice-cold water and short the resting time.  The pie dough might be more difficult to roll and shrink more but the fat globules are intact enough to still make the crust reasonably flaky.
     
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2011
  6. Mar 19, 2011 #5
    pcieluck

    pcieluck

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    I always figured that cold water in pastries and biscuits would be important, but I even see this, sometimes, in bread recipes that contain no fat at all.
     
  7. Mar 20, 2011 #6
    dobzre

    dobzre

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    In yeast breads ice water delays the activation of the yeast, allowing a longer period of time for the amylase to break down into sugars. When the yeast finally wakes up it begins to feast on sugars that weren't there the day before. Sugars remain in the final dough lending itself to a more caramelized crust. Only for lean doughs. The complex flavor would be lost in an enriched dough or one with other inclusions.