why would a pie crust recipe call for vinegar?

Answer 1

My Mother's recipe does...I always thought it made the dough softer and more tender than regular crust, and browned more when baked?

OLGA's PIE CRUST:
4 cups flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 3/4 cup Crisco Shortening
1/2 cup cold water
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 egg

Stir the flour, sugar and salt together in a medium size bowl. With a pastry blender, cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

In a small bowl beat together water, vinegar and egg. Add to flour mixture until the dough comes together.

Gently gather dough particles together into a ball. Wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 30 minutes. Divide into 4 balls. Lightly flour sides of the ball and roll out on lightly floured board or pastry cloth. Makes two 9-inch double-crust pies.

Note: Dough can be refrigerator up to 3 days. It can be frozen until ready to use; thaw until soft enough to roll.

Answer 2

It is a leavening - some older recipes used soda water or white vinegar to help boost the flakiness of the crust. Yes it does work and no you can't taste it in the crust, this helps you to skip the "rest time" the dough requires to develop its own leaven - just make and bake. Nice short cut if you need to cut time off holiday baking and want to make the crust yourself.

Answer 3

When flour is mixed with water, gluten is formed--these are the protein strands that are necessary in yeast bread making, etc. When making quick breads the mixture is only mixed until blended--never overmixed--so that too much gluten is not formed. The vinegar is used in your pie crust recipe because the acid (along with the shortening) keeps the gluten strands from getting too long--thus resulting in a tender, flaky crust.

Answer 4

I have been looking for a pe crust recipe with vinegar! You really should try it! That was how my grandma made hers and it was the best! I used to like to eat the uncooked pie crust all by its self!!!

Answer 5

because it makes it more tangy? I really dont know and I really didnt know that it called for vinager