How to store puff pastry

How to tell puff pastry has gone bad

General signs for baked goods: refrigerated dough, the group USDA lists puff pastry under.

• Container or tube bulging or the seal has popped
• Grey or off-colour patches on the dough surface
• Sour, yeasty or alcohol-like smell instead of a mild one
• Slimy or unusually sticky texture on the outside
• Visible mould spots, often blue-green or white

More on baked goods: refrigerated dough. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.

Storage habits that make the difference

Keep refrigerated dough cold at all times and return it to the fridge promptly after use, since raw dough with eggs or dairy is not safe left at room temperature. Freeze unused portions in a sealed bag or container, and thaw in the fridge rather than on the counter before baking.