Pastry blender

Pastry Blender

A pastry blender, also known as a pastry cutter, is a kitchen tool used to mix a hard (solid) fat into flour in order to make pastries. The tool is usually made of narrow metal strips or wires attached to a handle, and is used by pressing down on the items to be mixed (known as "cutting in"). It is also used to break these fats (usually butter, lard, shortening, or margarine) into pieces.

History

The pastry blender was invented in the 19th century, with the first patent for a design of a pastry blender filed in 1891 by John J. Landers. It was originally designed to blend the fat into the flour, but it has since been used for other purposes, such as mashing potatoes or chopping boiled eggs for egg salad.

Design and Use

A typical pastry blender consists of a handle attached to a half-moon shaped wire loop, which is designed to cut through fat and blend it with flour. The wires are usually made of stainless steel, while the handle can be made of wood, plastic, or metal. Some modern designs have blades instead of wires.

To use a pastry blender, the cook presses the blades into the mixture of flour and fat, which cuts the fat into small pieces. This process is repeated until the fat is evenly distributed throughout the flour. The goal is to create a mealy texture with the fat evenly distributed.

Variations and Alternatives

While the traditional pastry blender is manual, there are also electric versions available. These are often part of a larger kitchen appliance, such as a food processor or stand mixer.

If a pastry blender is not available, alternative methods can be used. Two knives can be used in a criss-cross fashion to cut the fat into the flour. A fork can also be used, although this method is more labor-intensive. For larger quantities, a food processor can be used.

See Also

• Baking
• Pastry
• Food Processor
• Stand Mixer