The right tools for the perfect pie

Have you started planning your holiday menus? Thanksgiving is soon enough and right after, Christmas. Each has it’s own traditions and staple foods. Whether you’re going pumpkin, sweet potato or pecan, the right tools can make or break your pie.

Pie weight: If you’re following a recipe that requires blind baking your pie crust (baking an empty crust), pie weights are a must. But the classic bead-like weights can be hard to remove after they come out of the oven. The small, piping hot weights pose a large threat of burning yourself. This innovative new design features one, large disk weight that is surrounded by heat-resistant silicone. The resulting piece weighs down your crust but is easy to remove after the oven; the silicone sides cover the crust but are also easy to grab with your hands without burning yourself. Cook’s Illustrated recently gave this weight 2 1/2 stars for function and 3 stars for easy use.

Pie shield: Fruit pies are a wonderful addition to holiday meals, but their juicy interior can drip on the oven floor when baking. The resulting mess can burn and stink up the house, plus it’s a real pain to clean off. You can easily shove a baking sheet under your pie when baking, but pie shields or pie drip catchers are even better. This round, non-stick coated plate slides under pie pans and catches overflowing juices without burning. This shield, spotlighted by Cook’s Illustrated as well, is great because it features a cut-out in the center; this opening allows the bottom the your pie crust to continue cooking, unlike a sheet pan that may prevent browning on the bottom.

Whisk: Before baking, you have to get the recipe just right. Not all whisks are created unequally, but fortunately the OXO 11 Inch Balloon Whisk is a great, affordable choice. Cook’s Illustrated also included this whisk in their list of “Top Equipment for baking Perfect Pies,” because it’s balanced, light weight design makes it super easy to whip up the perfect pie filling.

Also check out our Pinterest Baking Board for products, pie recipes, and lots of baking inspiration.