Use baking beans to make perfect pastry. Ceramic baking beans are useful in baking for two reasons, firstly they prevent the pastry from rising excessively which is particularly useful in blind baking which is why they are sometimes refereed to as blind baking beans. Baking beans also assist in the even distribution of heat through the pastry especially shortcrust and puff pastry.

Before baking the pastry is first covered in baking paper, the ceramic baking beans are then placed on top of the paper. Before baking beans people used to use dried legumes like peas, beans or rice, ceramic baking beans are much better at evenly distributing heat.