Many bakers like phyllo sheets for making several tasty dishes. They are commonly from appetizers and snacks to entrees and desserts. Phyllo dough sheets are either flat or rolled when bought. Most people find it a bit complicated and tricky to work on those pre-made sheets. Learn how to use phyllo dough sheets in this article.
What Are Phyllo Dough Sheets
Before knowing how to use phyllo dough sheets, it is much better to know this particular ingredient’s basic features. A phyllo dough sheet is a thin sheet of dough. It makes a certain food more delectable, and you can make lots of delicious menus, particularly pastries and pies, using it. Though it makes delicious food, it is known to be delicate and hard to use. When baked, phyllo dough is crispy, crunchy, flaky, and shatter when cut or bitten. Packed phyllo dough sheets come in different shapes and different forms.
Tips on the Use of Phyllo Dough Sheets
When you buy these baking sheets, each pack comes with instructions so you can easily work on them, but it’s not that easy to execute the handling, though. Here are some useful ideas on how to use phyllo dough sheets so you won’t end up wasting them:
- Defrost the phyllo sheet in the fridge and ever on the counter. It may take a few hours to soften the dough, but it will give you the best result.
- Fresh is best. Though frozen phyllo works very well, the best phyllo is fresh phyllo or never been frozen.
- Have all ingredients prepped? Phyllo dough dries out faster than you think, so it is better to have your ingredients and fillings prepped and kitchen utilities ready and on-hand. It is advisable not to open the phyllo package until you have all the other ingredients prepared and ready to work.
- Keep your hands dry. The phyllo sheets are very sensitive to water, that is why you should dry out your hands when using them as much as possible. Even if your hands are completely dry, never use your hands when cutting the sheets; you should use other cutting tools for a flawless result.
- Never leave the phyllo sheet pack in the open air. Phyllo sheets that are left open dry out quickly, so you have to keep it covered all the time.
- Quickly roll up any unused phyllo sheets. You have to roll them, wrap them well in plastic, and you can refrigerate them for up to two weeks. You can use a foil or wrap them in plastic, and it will stay longer in the fridge.
- Torn Phyllo sheets are still usable. There’s no need to worry when you have torn the sheets because they can be patched back together; also, patched pieces are barely noticeable when already cooked. Don’t worry, though, because it will keep very well once you’ve made and shaped your phyllo.
Phyllo Dough Ingredients
Low-calorie phyllo doughs are a perfect substitute for high-fat puff pastry, ready-made crusts and canned, and refrigerated doughs. Typically, the phyllo dough contains enriched wheat flour. It also contains niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid, corn starch, water, salt, dextrose, maltodextrin, canola oil, and some preservatives (calcium propionate, sodium propionate, potassium sorbate).
Baking Tips Using Phyllo Dough
When you have already learned how to use phyllo dough sheets, the next step is to consider some tips when baking them. It is always better to follow the baking instructions that come with the package when you bake using phyllo dough sheets. When baking, you must immediately put your phyllo recipe in the oven once it is ready. Exposing it to the open air will affect its quality. It is also advisable that you watch them closely once the oven is already heated. Slow and quick baking will make the phyllo sheets golden brown and crisp. But a few minutes past that process will burn the sheets. Know more about phyllo dough sheets.
Conclusion
A handy tip to consider on how to use phyllo dough sheets is working fast on them. You also have to be more organized and attentive. Phyllo sheets make delicious dishes of different kinds, and it takes patience and practice to master the cooking and baking technique that involves them as the main ingredient. Phyllo sheets are delicate and finicky ingredients, but the final product will give you all the satisfaction.