Spotted this U-shaped tool with multiple metal blades in my grandmother’s baking bin. It has a wooden handle but looks like some kind of strange knuckles.

without overworking the dough.

The primary function of a pastry blender is to cut fat, such as butter or shortening, into flour. This process is vital in creating a flaky texture in baked goods. The metal blades effectively break the fat into smaller pieces, which then become coated in flour. The goal is to achieve a mixture that resembles coarse crumbs or peas, indicating that the fat is evenly distributed.

This method helps to inhibit gluten formation, which occurs