baking Baking is a method of preparing food that uses dry heat, typically in an oven, but it can also be done in hot ashes, or on hot Baking stone, stones. Bread is the most commonly baked item, but many other types of food can also be baked. Heat is ...

, a crust is the outer, hard skin of

bread Bread is a baked food product made from water, flour, and often yeast. It is a staple food across the world, particularly in Europe and the Middle East. Throughout recorded history and around the world, it has been an important part of many cu ...

or the shell of a pie. Generally, it is made up of at least

shortening Shortening is any fat that is a solid at room temperature and is used to make crumbly pastry and other food products. The idea of shortening dates back to at least the 18th century, well before the invention of modern, shelf-stable vegetable ...

or another

fat In nutrition science, nutrition, biology, and chemistry, fat usually means any ester of fatty acids, or a mixture of such chemical compound, compounds, most commonly those that occur in living beings or in food. The term often refers specif ...

water Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance. It is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known liv ...

flour Flour is a powder made by Mill (grinding), grinding raw grains, List of root vegetables, roots, beans, Nut (fruit), nuts, or seeds. Flours are used to make many different foods. Cereal flour, particularly wheat flour, is the main ingredie ...

, and

salt In common usage, salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl). When used in food, especially in granulated form, it is more formally called table salt. In the form of a natural crystalline mineral, salt is also known as r ...

. It may also include

milk Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of lactating mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfeeding, breastfed human infants) before they are able to digestion, digest solid food. ...

sugar Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose Glucose is a sugar with the Chemical formula#Molecular formula, molecul ...

, or other ingredients that contribute to the taste or texture. An egg or

wash can be used to decorate the outside, as well as coarse

. A crust contributes to a

pastry Pastry refers to a variety of Dough, doughs (often enriched with fat or eggs), as well as the sweet and savoury Baking, baked goods made from them. The dough may be accordingly called pastry dough for clarity. Sweetened pastries are often descr ...

. The ratio of ingredients and mixing method determines the texture of the crust. If the

is not well mixed with the

, then

can bind to the available

causing the

gluten Gluten is a structural protein naturally found in certain Cereal, cereal grains. The term ''gluten'' usually refers to the elastic network of a wheat grain's proteins, gliadin and glutenin primarily, that forms readily with the addition of water ...

protein matrix to become over developed. This would result in a tough crust, as opposed to a flaky crust, which is more desirable. Depending on the type of pastry, the crust can be baked before it is filled, or in baked (baked together with the filling). In pies, two different types of crust exist: one-crust pie and two-crust pie. A two-crust pie can have either a complete upper crust, a lattice top, or any of a variety of other decorative tops.

Types

In baking there are many types of crusts and doughs for these crusts depending on what you are trying to achieve. In pastries there are five different types of dough you can use as the crust; flaky, shortcrust, puff, choux and filo. ;Flaky: Flaky crust is a delicate crust but very easy to make. Flaky crust can be used for sweet and savory treats. An example of a flaky crust is it can be used as the crust for a quiche. ;Shortcrust: Shortcrust is a thicker crust. It is good for thicker treats like cookies. ;Puff: Puff pastry crust is similar to flaky crust but is slightly lighter and may possibly be layered. Puff pastry is good for bakers and is what makes things like a chocolate croissant. ;Choux: Choux is kind of like a shell when finished. It is also known for being paired with cream. Choux is good for things like eclairs or cannolis. ;Filo: Filo is very delicate and similar to puff. Filo is used in a lot of savory greek foods like spanokopita. Pies also use different types of crust depending on the flavor and idea a person is going for. There are eight main types of pie crust; Flaky, Tender, Hot Water, Sweet crust, Crostata, Creamcheese, Cornmeal, graham cracker or other cookie type, and Rough puff. Any of these crusts could work for any pie but the tastes are slightly different. When making a pie, a crust should be chosen which one will taste the best and hold in the filling.

References

Pies {{Ingredient-stub

Types

See also

References