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how long to hold lemon meringue pie before final browning

post #1 of 8
10/21/11 at 4:04pm
Thread Starter 

I don't usually offer a lemon meringue tart, but one of my best clients has asked for this; we need to deliver it the day before.  I'm not sure if I should brown the meringue before or let them do it before serving.  I am going to use my regular lemon tart filling, and make an Italian meringue for the topping. I'm wondering if it would weep if we browned it or if it would be a problem to wait and let them do it. Any words of wisdom?

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post #2 of 8
10/22/11 at 10:46am

I used to make lemon curd tarts with an italian meringue on top. I would brown them with a torch, and I had no problems with weeping for days. Italian meringue is the most stable of the meringues. The kind of meringues that weep are the ones that aren't cooked beforehand (ie whipping egg whites and sugar with no heating involved, then spreading it on the tart and baking).

My website:
http://www.cake-o-rama.com
My blog:
http://valanne.typepad.com/blog/
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post #3 of 8
10/22/11 at 5:12pm
Thread Starter 

Hi Annie!  I am so glad to hear that; today has been one of those days.  As in, someone who is a CIA grad with 20 years of experience thought that 6 ounces of salt in a gingerbread cookie dough recipe was perfectly normal and didn't apologize when the error was discovered "because that's what the recipe said and you said that only the spices were measured in teaspoons and the other stuff was in ounces".

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post #4 of 8
10/22/11 at 5:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JCakes View Post

Hi Annie!  I am so glad to hear that; today has been one of those days.  As in, someone who is a CIA grad with 20 years of experience thought that 6 ounces of salt in a gingerbread cookie dough recipe was perfectly normal and didn't apologize when the error was discovered "because that's what the recipe said and you said that only the spices were measured in teaspoons and the other stuff was in ounces".


Oh Jeanne! 6 ounces of salt! If that didn't raise a red flag for an experienced professional, I don't know what would! How frustrating!crazy.gif

 

My website:
http://www.cake-o-rama.com
My blog:
http://valanne.typepad.com/blog/
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post #5 of 8
10/22/11 at 5:58pm

Hi all , but can you brown the  Italian meringue , i never tried?

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post #6 of 8
10/23/11 at 1:24pm

Of course you can brown italian meringue.......you can brown any meringue actually.

My website:
http://www.cake-o-rama.com
My blog:
http://valanne.typepad.com/blog/
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post #7 of 8
10/23/11 at 8:46pm

oh thanks guys

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post #8 of 8
10/24/11 at 4:16am

Browning will make it stiffer and hold up better, also better for shipping and moving. Also you will tend to retard the egg white from absorbing other flavors from the fridge.

Chef EdB
Over 50 years in food service business 35 as Ex Chef. Specializing in Volume upscale Catering both on and off premise .(former Exec. Chef in the largest on premise caterer in US  with 17 Million Dollars per year annual volume). 
      Well versed in all facets of Continental Cuisine...
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