Whether you take on a weekly baking project or you’re baking your first pie, choosing a convenient pan will yield better results and make the process more enjoyable. Making a pie is a simple task when compared to cake if choosing the right pan. There are a plethora of options available under different materials when it comes to buying a pie pan. These materials are ceramic, and glass; however, both conduct heat slowly, resulting in cooking more consistently and evenly. Moreover, they tend to look even more attractive as a serving dish on your table. Talk of metal, a metal pie pan is a fantastic heat conductor.
Besides material, you should also look at the size of the pie. For example, A 9-inch-wide, 1.25-inch-deep pan is ideal for a single-crust pie such as pumpkin, allowing for a clean crumb. If you want something bigger, you can go for a pan about two inches deep. This one is suitable for baking double-crust pies.
Best Pie Pans For The Money
Even after getting this information you are confused in choosing the best pie pan for you, you can check out the given list. The list of pie pans has been made after doing lots of test and research by reading the other online genuine reviews, quality and price offered by the online manufacturer.
1. Pyrex Easy Grab Glass Pie Plate
Pyrex makes your baking and cooking adventures last for a long. The brand celebrates a lot of food and the memories around you. If you are looking for the two-pies plate set, the Pyrex glass pie would be a great choice. It is the ideal pair for doubling up your baking. Pyrex glass plate can be used for serving, baking, storage, cooking and microwaving. They are suitable for freezer and refrigerator storage of taking foods on the go. These 9.5-inch two pie plates have easy grab rims for a strong grip and are ideal for most recipes. Designed, crafted, and manufactured in the USA, Pyrex is popular as well as renowned in the glass.
Each pie plate weighs 2.2 pounds, and has a dimension of 11.25 x 11.25 x 2.06 inches, making them lightweight & user-friendly. Further, the vessels are dishwasher, microwave, oven and freezer safe. Since it comes with a plastic lid, you can cover the food with them for further use. These lids are top-rack dishwasher-safe and BPA-free. Made & designed in the USA, this nonporous glass won’t absorb flavors, odors, or stains.
Pros:
- This set comes with a 2-year warranty, excluding the lid.
- The glass dish is freezer, dishwasher, and pre-heated oven safe.
Cons:
- They can explode at high oven temperatures.
2. OXO Good Grips Glass Pie Plate with Lid
OXO manufactures cookware, appliances and utensils for use throughout the home, from baking and cooking to cleaning and organizing, to brewing and entertaining. The OXO Good grips-covered pie dish is constructed with borosilicate glass to enable moving from microwave or oven to refrigerator or freezer. The borosilicate glass design and construction tolerates extreme heat fluctuations without the risk of shattering or cracking.
This 9 x 9 x 2.1 inches glass pie pan weighs 2.5 pounds. The thing you’ll like most about this product is the availability of a generous rim that offers a comfortable and safe grip. This glass pie comes along with a translucent, BPA-free lid to prevent spilling and protect ingredients when on the go or storing.
The vents available in the lid allow moisture and heat to escape. If you are looking for a versatile glass pie, this would be your kitchen companion as it is perfect for quiches, crumbles, pies and more. When it comes to upkeep and cleaning, you simply need to put it in a dishwasher.
Pros:
- This glass pie pan is microwave, dishwasher, and freezer safe.
- The lid will enable to keep food fresh without letting air in.
Cons:
- It may not be reliable as it is China made product.
3. G & S Metal OvenStuff Nonstick Pie Pans
Metal is an even more durable, reliable, and long-lasting option compared to previous glass models mentioned on this list. This Non-stock 9 pie pan set comes with two 9-inch pans that can be used to make pies. Speakings of design, Ovenstuff bakeware is constructed with a DuraGlide Plus non-stick finish, which enables your pie to move from the pan with great ease.
Now talk about construction, pie pan set is constructed using premium quality steel that provides you with even heating across the dish for optimal baking results. This USA-made pie pan has a non-stick coating that has toughened to offer better performance.
With a long-lasting non-stick coating outside and inside, these pans releases baked items effortlessly making clean-up easy and simple. The high-performance steel construction of the pan ensures there are no more burnt edges left behind while baking. Made in the USA, the dependable heavyweight steel provides reliable performance.
Pros:
- Metal tends to be more efficient, durable and safe for baking pies.
- The non-stick finish makes the pan easier to clean.
Cons:
- Not found.
How To Choose The Best Pie Pan?
Unlike a colourful, tall, sweet cake, pie requires more detail and effort. Without the right pie pan, it seems so hard to achieve the desired texture and flavours. Whether you’re a frequent baker, or you’re just learning to bake pies, having reliable pie pans will make the process less difficult and yield the best outcomes.
But, when it comes to pie pans, you will find a ton available in the market, which can confuse you in understanding what is best. To help you out or make your selection task less daunting, we are going to discuss a comprehensive buying guide.
- Check the material used in the pan
Pie can be made of different materials, including glass, ceramic, steel, porcelain, and cast iron. Each material has its characteristics and drawbacks. Being selective with the material of the pan will enable you to know the material is resistant to thermal shock, especially when you aim to place frozen pies in the microwave oven.
- Glass Pie Pan
Modern and advanced glass pie pans are a great choice for baking pies as they are a good source of heat conduct. These pans bake by conducting heat evenly throughout the pie dough. The heat in the dough comes through the radiant and conduction heat, as the heat can reach your baked pie through the glass.
And, the butter will melt evenly and form perfect layers without sinking out the dough due to its heat conduction capabilities. Whereas tempered glass is non-reactive, strong and budget-friendly. In addition, it enables you to monitor the crust while baking to avoid underbaking and overbaking.
- Metal Pie Pan
The aluminum pie pan falls into this category. These pans will make the crunchiest sides for your pie because they spread the heat evenly and rapidly. Go for either an aluminum pan or a lightweight metal one that transports the temperature faster for a crunchy crust.
Most metal pie pans available today are aluminum-coated or manufactured from aluminum. The best part about metal pans is that they are lightweight, easy, economical and equally fast to bake.
A significant drawback is that they are not knife-friendly, and are less durable single-use products. Metal pans are ideal to use for baking pastry crusts and a variety of pies. They can even cool down quickly, a great choice for easy use and easy storage, plus they’re affordable.
Pro tip: The heavier the metal pan, the less likely it is to deform.
- Ceramic Pie Pan
Ceramic pie pans are suitable for those who prefer to prepare fancy pies or pies in traditional ways. They are stored as well as knife and freezer friendly. Since ceramic is a good source of heat conductors, you can prepare pies from it without any hassle. The major drawback of ceramic pies is the risk of grease getting into the pie crust and the grease being baked or over-baked. Thus, you will need to stop soggy bottoms. With a ceramic pan, you’ll bake for a longer time on a lower heat while avoiding the butter collecting or settling on the bottom of the pan.
- Check whether the pan is versatile or not
Pans with added convenience are considered more versatile. For example, if you want to make multiple dishes in addition to pie, you can opt for a freezer-safe pie pan. To reheat leftovers, you must make sure the pan is oven safe. Some pans have a tight-fitting lid, which makes storing leftovers easier, and prevents spills on you. There are some pans available that have curved or ruffled edges, which enables you to bake a beautiful crimped edge, even if a novice to pie baking.
- Ensure the pan is easy to clean
Less upkeep, maintenance, and easy cleanup are other major aspects when choosing a pie pan. Go for a pie pan that is dishwasher-friendly as well as safe for manual cleaning.
- Look out for the perfect depth and size
Modern pie pans are between 9 to 10 inches in diameter. There are a few other models available designed for making standard pies. For example, a two-inch-deep pie skillet is perfect for copious stuffing for single-crust pies and double-crust pies. On the other hand, a 1.5-inch deep pie pan can be ideal for both single-crust and double-crust pies.
How to Clean and Care for Your Pie Pan?
Using peroxide, vinegar, and baking soda help clean your pie pan well. Let’s get started!
Method1:
- If you are going to use baking soda, then first put the water on the pan.
- Let the bubbles stop forming in the solution and sit entirely for 1 hour.
- Next, remove food or debris from the stick using a soft cloth.
- Complete the cleaning process by hand-wiping with mild dish soap.
Method2:
- Fill a container with warm water and add a small amount of vinegar and baking soda. (Half cup each). Keep your pie pan onto the solution and let it soak for half hour.
- Use a regular kitchen sponge to remove the baked-on residue, wash it with mild dish soap & dry. In the case of a non-stick pan, don’t use harsh scrub to protect the coating.
Method3:
- Spread baking and pour hydrogen peroxide over it. Allow the solution to sit for 2 hours to sit well.
- Use a sponge to keep the mixture off. Repeat the same process for stubborn residue, if needed.
- Once all steps have been followed, wash it with mild dish soap.
Caring tips
Some of the important tips that must be followed to care for pie pan are below given.
- Grease or spray the pan with cooking spray to alter the texture of the bottom of the crust.
- If your pie pan is made from glass, don’t put it in the dishwasher because it might break.
- Read the manual instruction carefully before cleaning the pie pan.
Pie Pan Frequently Asked Questions
- How to choose the right dimension of a pie pan?
When it comes to measuring a pie pan, start measuring from the rim-to-inside rim and make sure it’s exactly 9-inches. Then start measuring from the rim to the bottom, inside the pan, keeping the ruler flush with the angled side making sure it measures between 1 ¼ and 1 ½ inch.
- Do I need to grease my glass pie pan?
And the answer is no! Glass pie pans distribute heat evenly and are one of the easiest pan materials to use. You won’t need to spread oil or butter on the surface. Use cooking spray to give it a very light coating so that the pie doesn’t stick to it.
- Can I use a pie pan to bake tart?
You can definitely press your tart shell into a pie pan and fill it with batter. Though the presentation won’t be as exact as a tart pan offer, you even have some hassle while serving and slicing. The better alternate for a tart pan is a springform pan.
- How do I prevent the pie from sticking to the pan?
Rub the pan over the surface of the pan using a paper towel. You need to lightly moist the towel first and add some vegetable oil over the base for rubbing. In this way, your pie won’t stick to its base.
- What should I do if my pie is getting moist?
You will need to create a hurdle between the dough and the filling by adding further ingredients that won’t alter the flavor of the whole dish. Before filling and baking in the oven, add some crushed cornflakes, dried breadcrumbs, or other types of cereal to the bottom crust, as it will prevent the filling from turning the crust moist.
- Why do my pie crusts fall apart?
If your pie dough breaks while trying to roll it out, it is often too dry. This is a comparatively easy fix. Use your fingers to sprinkle some cold water over the dough, until the dough comes together.
- How to know the pie is cooked from the bottom side?
If you’re baking a fruit pie in the oven and it’s been in it for the amount of time directed in the recipe, and you don’t see juice bubbling along the edge or around the vent hole, it’s not quite ready. You have to bake in the oven for at least 10 to 15 minutes.
Hi, my name is Ashley Robinson. I’m a food blogger and a part time chef in Food & Drink Junction, Denver. With my blog I’m sharing information & tutorials about different kinds of cooking pans.
