Is pastry pie crust an acid or a base?

Pastry pie crust is generally neither acidic nor basic. It's considered neutral.

Here's why:

* Ingredients: The main ingredients in pie crust are flour, fat (like butter or shortening), and water. These ingredients are generally neutral in pH.

* pH: The pH scale measures acidity (0-6) and alkalinity (8-14), with 7 being neutral.

* Slight Variations: While the ingredients themselves are neutral, the addition of certain ingredients like vinegar or lemon juice can make the crust slightly acidic. However, these are often added in small amounts and don't significantly change the overall pH.

Therefore, pastry pie crust is typically considered neutral in terms of acidity and alkalinity.