Ingredient Guides
Puff Pastry: What It Is, How to Use It and Storage Tips
Puff pastry is one of those ingredients I like having around when I want to make something quick and tasty. Ready-made pastry saves the time and effort of preparing dough from scratch, and you can use it for both savoury and sweet dishes.
From cheese pastries to pinwheels and filled pastry pockets, there are plenty of ways to use it.
By Esther LackiePublished
What Is Puff Pastry?
Puff pastry is a light, layered pastry made by folding dough and fat together repeatedly.
When heated, moisture in the dough and fat creates steam, helping the layers separate and rise. The result is a crisp, flaky pastry with a light texture.
Making traditional puff pastry from scratch takes time, which is why ready-made puff pastry is a convenient option for everyday cooking.
Types of Puff Pastry
Product availability and ingredients vary by brand.
- Chilled puff pastry: usually sold refrigerated and ready to unroll or shape. Follow the package instructions.
- Frozen puff pastry: stored frozen and thawed according to the manufacturer's instructions before use.
- All-butter puff pastry: made using butter as the main laminating fat and known for its buttery flavour.
- Puff pastry made with other fats: some ready-made products use vegetable fats or a blend of fats. Check the ingredients if this matters for your dietary preferences.
How to Use Ready-Made Puff Pastry
- 01
Thaw if frozen
Follow the package instructions for thawing.
- 02
Keep it cool
Keep the pastry cool until you're ready to use it. Pastry can become sticky and difficult to handle when it gets too warm.
- 03
Shape it
Unroll or cut the pastry into the shapes you need.
- 04
Fill lightly
Add your chosen filling without overloading the pastry.
- 05
Seal the edges
Seal the edges where the recipe requires it.
- 06
Cook it through
Cook according to the recipe until the pastry is properly baked.
What Can You Make With Puff Pastry?
A few ideas:
- Cheese pastries
- Sausage rolls
- Savoury pinwheels
- Filled pastry pockets
- Tomato and cheese pastries
- Fruit turnovers
- Small dessert pastries
Can You Cook Puff Pastry in an Air Fryer?
Yes, puff pastry can be cooked in an air fryer. A few things help:
- Use an appropriate air fryer setting and recipe.
- Leave space between pastries so air can circulate, and avoid overcrowding the basket.
- Keep fillings manageable to reduce leakage.
- Check that the pastry is properly cooked, including the underside. Don't judge doneness only by the colour of the top.
- Cook raw meat fillings to their appropriate safe internal temperature.
Cooking times vary depending on pastry size, filling and air fryer model, so there isn't one temperature or time that suits everything. For more general tips, see my Air Fryer Baking Guide for Beginners.
Puff Pastry vs Shortcrust Pastry vs Filo Pastry
These pastry types are not always interchangeable, so use the one your recipe calls for.
- Puff pastry: layered, rises when baked and produces a flaky texture.
- Shortcrust pastry: generally more crumbly and compact, commonly used for pies and tarts.
- Filo pastry: very thin sheets typically layered with fat between them, producing a delicate crisp texture.
How to Store Puff Pastry
- Unopened chilled pastry: store in the refrigerator according to the package instructions and use by the stated date.
- Frozen pastry: keep frozen according to the manufacturer's storage instructions.
- Thawed pastry: follow the package guidance on how soon to use it and whether refreezing is permitted.
- Opened pastry: wrap or cover it, refrigerate and use within the manufacturer's recommended period.
- Cooked pastries: cool and refrigerate promptly when they contain perishable fillings such as meat, cheese or eggs. Follow food safety guidance for storage and reheating.
Common Mistakes When Using Puff Pastry
- Letting the pastry get too warm before shaping.
- Overfilling pastries.
- Not sealing filled pastry properly.
- Crowding pastries in the air fryer.
- Using very wet fillings.
- Assuming a golden top means the centre is cooked.
- Ignoring the package's storage instructions.
Final Tip
Ready-made puff pastry is a convenient ingredient for quick meals and snacks. Keep it cool, avoid overfilling it and give it enough room to cook properly.
Once you understand how it behaves, it's easy to experiment with different shapes and fillings.
