Make-Ahead Pastry

Make your pie crust and then store it in the freezer so it's ready when you are.

To get a jump-start on your next pastry project, prepare your pastry as directed, but don't roll it out. Instead, flatten the pastry into a patty, place it in a freezer bag, and freeze for up to 2 months. When you're in a pie-baking mood, thaw the pastry overnight in the refrigerator.

You can also roll pastry out and fit it into a pie plate or tart plan. Place the pastry in a freezer bag and freeze as above. Frozen pastry shells can be baked without thawing, but you will need to use a freezer-to-oven pie plate and may need to add 5 or 10 minutes to the baking time.