Can you refrigerate paratha dough overnight before baking?

Question

Explore how overnight refrigeration impacts paratha dough texture and rolling.

Answer 1

Yes, you can refrigerate paratha dough overnight. This allows the gluten to relax, resulting in a softer and more pliable paratha.

Detailed Explanation:

Refrigerating paratha dough overnight is a common and beneficial practice. Here's why and how to do it:

1. Prepare the Dough: Make your paratha dough as you normally would, combining flour, water, salt, and oil or ghee. Knead it until it's smooth and elastic.
2. Rest at Room Temperature (Optional): You can let the dough rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes before refrigerating. This gives the gluten a head start on relaxing. However, this step is not strictly necessary.
3. Wrap the Dough: Lightly oil the dough ball to prevent it from drying out. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container.
4. Refrigerate: Place the wrapped dough in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or up to 24 hours. Longer refrigeration times (up to 24 hours) generally result in a more relaxed and easier-to-handle dough.
5. Bring to Room Temperature: Before rolling and cooking the parathas, remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about 30-60 minutes. This will make it easier to roll out.
6. Roll and Cook: Proceed with rolling out the parathas and cooking them on a hot griddle or tawa as usual.

Pro Tip:

If you're short on time, even a couple of hours in the refrigerator will improve the dough's texture. However, avoid refrigerating for longer than 24 hours, as the dough may start to dry out or develop an undesirable flavor.