Safety Check: When to Bake vs. Bin
Bake with confidence if:
✓ Specks are flat, dry, and match the dough’s texture
✓ Pastry smells buttery or neutral (no sour/musty notes)
✓ No fuzzy growth, slime, or colorful patches appear
Toss without guilt if:
✗ Specks are fuzzy, raised, or moist
✗ You detect mold in blues, greens, or whites
✗ It smells off—sharp, sour, or musty
✗ Pastry is severely freezer-burned or past its safe storage window
Pro tip: Frozen puff pastry rarely molds—it’s the thawed, room-temperature version that risks spoilage. When in doubt? Your nose knows. Trust it.
