Biscuit cutter substitutes have always been a topic that grabs people’s attention. When making biscuits, instead of shaping the dough by hand, you need a unique kitchen tool called a biscuit cutter to cut it.
But not everyone has biscuit cutters available in their kitchen. Instead of using the cutters, there are many gadgets you can use as a stand-in for biscuit cutters.
Keep reading to find out what they are and how to use them. Besides, I will also provide some noticeable notes on the usage of each substitute. So don’t miss it!
Basic Knowledge About Biscuits
Currently, many may still mistake biscuits for cookies. But that is not true! They are two different types, and America has both of them simultaneously. If you need clarification about the two treats, this section is for you!
A Staple Food In America
Biscuits are a famous quick bread in America. They look more like British scones than American scones themselves.
The dish combines flour, fat (usually lard, butter, or shortening), a leavening agent (baking powder or baking soda), and a generous amount of buttermilk; biscuits are an excellent choice as a side dish or breakfast.
They are firm and dry on the outside, but their interior is soft and crumbly(1). Biscuits have a tangy butter flavor that goes well with fried chicken, stews, grilled vegetables, or soup. In particular, biscuits and gravy are a classic beloved dish throughout the US.
How Biscuits Are Made
To make biscuits, first, you have to mix the dry ingredients. Then, break the cold butter into smaller pieces and coat them with flour. Unlike most mixing methods, this technique requires you to leave small butter chunks intact.
The next step is adding buttermilk to create a sticky dough before folding it many times. After shaping the biscuits, you can start baking.
Making biscuits might not be as tricky as cakes or bread. However, one of the most challenging parts is shaping the dough. If you don’t do it properly, the layers won’t separate, resulting in an uneven rise in the baking process.
Did you know the ultimate way to make flaky and fluffy biscuits? Check out this recipe now!
Biscuit Cutter – A Useful Kitchen Tool
A biscuit cutter is a tool that helps you shape biscuits, cookies, or pastries easier. It is usually circular with a sharp edge and hollow in the middle. Biscuit cutters often have a handle attached to the side so that you can manipulate it easily.
They are available in various shapes, but round is the most common. Their sizes vary from 2 to 6 inches, allowing you to store them easily without taking up space.
They have a taller edge than cookie cutters. People use stainless steel, plastic, wood, nylon, or tin to make them. The edges of biscuit cutters can be straight or scalloped, offering you some decoration for your biscuits.
If you are a professional baker, then having biscuit cutters is a must. They provide consistency in your biscuit batch of the same size and shape.
Best Alternative For Biscuit Cutters
To cut biscuit dough, you need a tool with a sharp edge. If you find something in your kitchen that meets the description, feel free to use it. I will recommend some best ways to substitute biscuit cutters to give you a better idea.
The table below is a summary of the pros and cons of each method. This information will help you make a better decision in choosing biscuit cutter substitutes.
1. A Glass Or A Large Cup
Simply place the glass upside-down; you now have a stand-in alternative for biscuit cutters. This is one of the easiest and fastest ways to substitute biscuit cutters. You only have to choose the cup with an edge that fits your desired biscuit size.
The cut will be cleaner if your glass has a thin rim, such as champagne glass. Or, you can just use a regular drinking glass.
To prevent sticking, dip the glass into the flour first. Simply invert the glass and press it down. However, this method has a disadvantage. Since the rim of the glass is not sharp, it won’t cut through your dough.
Don’t try to remove the excess by hand; you will probably ruin the perfectly round shape of your biscuits. Instead, use a sharp knife to cut around the edge of the glass. Wiggle the glass a little bit when you are done, and the dough will come out easier.
For a large cup as a biscuit cutter substitute, you can spray the rim with non-stick spray and continue using the same technique as above.
2. Kitchen Knife
Kitchen knives are also a handy substitute for biscuit cutters. Although it may not give your biscuits the same uniform shape, it can ensure each cut is clean. In addition, this is a chance for you to get creative with biscuit shapes.
If you think using a sharp knife is risky, a butter knife will be useful. You can also try a paring knife; it’s faster and easier to control.
To do this technique, you want to divide the dough into several pieces. Place the knife horizontally, press it down, and move it along the dough to create your desired shape.
Circular forms might be a little hard with this technique. Another option for you is making square biscuits. They are simple and look beautiful too.
These simple instructions will show you how to cut square biscuits using a kitchen knife.
3. Product Tins And Cans
Product tins or cans, which you usually see in supermarkets, are what you need for a biscuit cutter alternative. They are usually made from metal with thin rims. Hence, cutting through the dough is not a hard task for them.
It’s common to have spam, tuna, or processed fruit cans in your house. Depending on the size or the shapes of the desired biscuits, you can choose the right cans or tins. You need to remove both ends of the can or tin with a can opener.
If you do so, when the dough sticks to the can, you can easily press it by hand or push it out through the other end. It may deform a little bit, but you can fix the dough by shaping it by hand.
After removing the bottom, wash the can carefully with a mild solution to eliminate the smell of food inside, and wipe it clean and dry. Flour the can or tin, and you can start shaping your biscuits. You can reuse the makeshift mold multiple times.
4. Cookie Cutter
Biscuit cutters don’t differ much from cookie cutters; they are more like a simplified version. Cookie cutters come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. You can easily find a wide variety of them with interesting shapes like animals or human figures.
A small thing to keep in mind is that your biscuits might turn out with a different shape. When baked, the biscuits rise higher than cookies, so the detail will be deformed.
When choosing a cookie cutter for your biscuits, pay attention to the blade and the side of the cutters. You should opt for the sharp blade to make a clean cut through the dough.
Cookie cutters usually have a short side. If you use these cutters, your biscuits won’t rise much in the oven; therefore, you want to use cookie cutters as a substitute.
5. Bench Scraper
If round biscuits are not your favorite, you will have no problem using a bench scraper. This tool is safer than knives as it doesn’t have a sharp edge. A bench scraper is impeccable at cutting dough. You only have to press it down at a 90-degree angle for a perfect cut.
Another advantage of making square biscuits is maximizing the number of biscuits from a dough. Sounds strange! But it’s true. Round biscuits tend to leave excess trimmings between them.
You will have to re-roll and re-cut the dough. However, overworked dough makes the biscuits tough and floury. Meanwhile, square biscuits only require 4 straight cuts on each side and leave no excess trimming.
This is why you must bring home a bench scraper, and it’s not just for dough.
6. Pizza Cutter
If you think cutting biscuits with a knife is too risky, why don’t you try pizza cutters? It’s a safer option, and most importantly, it works!
A pizza cutter is a popular utensil for slicing pizza. It has a curved or circular cutting blade attached to a handle for cutting pizza, but you can also try it on biscuit dough. Pizza cutters appear in various sizes; hence, you should consider which suits you best.
For usage, sprinkle some flour on a surface, and start rolling the dough. Next, slide a pizza cutter on the dough, following your desired shape. You can create shapes like squares, triangles, rectangles, diamonds, or rounds.
Make sure to maintain the same pressure on the cutter so that your biscuits can come out more consistently.
7. Canning Mason Jar Ring
You may not know about this, but the rings (also called screw bands) that seal the lid onto mason jars can make a great substitute for biscuit cutters. It already has a hollow center, so it’s very convenient.
Screw bands are not necessary for stored jars. If you still keep them, chances are that they will become hard to remove and rust (2).
You can use a butter knife blade or a spoon to remove the lid from the metal band. Tuck them under the lid and prise. Alternatively, take a hammer and a screw to create a small hole in the lid to break the vacuum seal.
Simply lift the flat lid, dip it in flour, and use it as a biscuit cutter. Canning jar rings are available in many sizes depending on the jar.
Therefore, you have to consider which one matches your biscuits most. It’s also bendable, so you can form it into different shapes for later use.
8. Measuring Cup
A measuring cup is a kitchen tool for measuring the volume of liquid or dry ingredients like sugar or flour. The measuring cup mainly consists of sturdy stainless steel. Typically, you want to go for the ⅓ cup that has a capacity of 80 ml.
To use this cup as a substitute for biscuit cutters, spray it with cooking spray. Then, scoop a full cup of dough and drop it on parchment paper. If you have trouble removing the dough, gently shake the cup, and it will come out easier.
Are you still vague about how a ⅓ measuring cup can substitute biscuit cutters? This tutorial will show you in no time.
The Right Cutter – Secrets To High-Rising Biscuits
Do you twist the cutter every time you cut your dough? Well, if you do, I believe most of your biscuits are not as flaky as you may want.
The twisting helps the dough bind together. The layers may mush together, and your biscuits won’t rise as much as they should. Hence, it’s important to make a clean cut; choosing the right cutter can help you with this.
The sharper the cutters are, the cleaner the cutouts become. For example, if you choose a glass with a thick rim, you should press it hard to cut through the dough. It results in the edges of the biscuits being compressed and makes them harder to rise.
In short, no matter what tool you use to cut biscuits, ensure it’s sharp enough to cut them in a single smooth motion.
FAQs
Is there any question about biscuit cutter substitutes still lingering in your head? Rest assured that this section will bring you the answer you need.
Let’s Choose A Best Biscuit Cutter Substitute For Yourself
Biscuits are a popular side dish in America because they are tasty and straightforward. However, the quality of biscuits partly depends on how you cut their shapes. Biscuits with a cleaner cut will rise higher and fluffier than the ones without.
A biscuit cutter can give you biscuits a perfect cut. But it’s not your only option. You can use a glass, a cup, a can, or other cutting tools like knives, cookies, or pizza cutters to shape biscuit dough. Each method contains different effectiveness levels.
Overall, if you only plan to make biscuits a few times a year, any of the above substitutes will be fine. Otherwise, you should purchase biscuit cutters since they are affordable and very easy to find.
Have you found your best biscuit cutter substitute? If yes, comment below and let me know what it is. Don’t forget to share this post with your friends and family so they can find the best tool for themselves.
References
- En.wikipedia.org (2022), Biscuit (bread)
- Nchfp.uga.edu (2022), General Canning Information
