Frozen phyllo
dough can be purchased at the
grocery store. It must be
thawed for 24 hours before use. If not, it will stick together. It is best to thaw the dough in its box in the
refrigerator, as contact with air will dry it out. Don't take it out until you've assembled the rest of your ingredients, and cover the pieces of dough with a damp kitchen
towel to preserve moisture. Each piece must be brushed with
butter or
oil to prevent brittleness while
baking.
Water directly applied will cause the dough to fall apart. Phyllo tears easily, but must be worked with as quickly as possible to prevent it from drying out and breaking. Purchasing more than you need is recommended. When layering phyllo dough, small tears can be camouflaged by the next layer of dough.