can't find pastry flour, now what?

Question

Hey you guys, I'm making a Chocolate Raspberry Tart, and for the crust I need pastry flour. Problem is my grocery store doesn't carry it and I don't have time to go all around town to find it. Will it still be ok to use all-purpose? I also have some cake flour and bread flour. I know bread flour won't do the trick, but perhaps cake flour would be better to use than all-purpose? Thanks!!!

Answer 1

Pastry flour is the same as cake flour, in terms of flour protiens.
All-Purpose will work in a pinch, but go for the cake flour.

Answer 2

The only difference between the flour types you have on hand is that pastry flour is ground even finer than bread (or all-purpose) flour.

Since you have it, use the cake flour. Otherwise, you could get away with using the all-purpose flour. But in any case, make sure you sift the flour. If you don't have a genuine sifter (I don't---I never needed one), just measure the flour into a mesh strainer, and repeatedly tap the side of the strainer over your mixing bowl.

Answer 3

Why not use all purpose but sift it first. Sifters can be bought at most grocery stores, or they used too!
All they are is wire, they made them round with a handle. You put the all purpose flour in the top of it, hand crank the flour through the wire. Makes the flour free of clogging, and makes the flour really nice for baking.

Try this :0)

Answer 4

Take regular all purpose flour and sift all the lumps out with a standard hand sifter and use as if it is Pastry Flour. My mom was a pastry chef for 3 decades and it is what she did when she was in a pinch.

Answer 5

Cake flour is the closest to pastry flour. You should be fine using that.

Answer 6

Just double sift your regular flour.