How long should the Savoury Short Crust Pastry rest in the fridge?

For Savoury Short Crust Pastry, allowing it to rest in the fridge for about 20 minutes is optimal. This resting period serves several purposes. Firstly, it helps to relax the gluten that develops during the mixing process. Gluten can make the pastry tough if not handled properly, and resting allows time for the protein strands to loosen, resulting in a more tender final product.

Additionally, chilling the pastry firms the fats, such as butter, making it easier to handle and roll out. A colder dough also helps maintain the structure during baking, as the fats will melt at a slower rate, contributing to a flakier texture.

While shorter resting times might also be practical, they may not adequately achieve the desired tenderness and texture of the pastry. For instance, a 10-minute rest might be insufficient for gluten relaxation, and anything longer than 20 minutes may not provide additional benefits in baking context. Therefore, 20 minutes is considered a balanced timeframe to enhance the quality of Savoury Short Crust Pastry.