If you’re shopping for pie weights, you presumably want your pie crust to seem like it came from a store or a restaurant.
Pie dough has a crumbly quality that is difficult to replicate at home without the use of specialized equipment.
Pie weights keep the edges of your crust from puffing up and becoming deformed during baking.
Ceramic or metal beads may be inserted within the pie crust before baking.
Pie weights assist keep your pastry in form during baking, and they may also guarantee your bottom crust crisps up correctly.
Pie weights come in a variety of forms and patterns.
You may also replace dry beans, rice, or sugar for pie weights.
Dried beans are probably your best choice if you want to avoid the dough from blowing up too much.
In this post, we will look at five various alternatives to typical metal or ceramic pie weights that you may use in your house.
Contents
- What is the definition of Pie Weight?
- The 5 Greatest Pie Weight Substitutes
- Conclusion
- FAQs
- What can I use if I don’t have pie weights or dried beans?
- Can I use pennies as pie weights?
- What kind of beans are best for pie weights?
- Can you use tin foil as pie weights?
- What happens if you don’t use pie weights?
- How do you bake without pie weights?
- What is the hack for pie weights?
- How to make homemade pie weights?
- Do you grease a pie dish before blind baking?
- What can I use as pie weight?
What is the definition of Pie Weight?
To begin, pie weights are used to secure the pastry crust of a quiche or other pie.
They may also be used to make strudels and tarts.
They are normally constructed of metals such as aluminum, although ceramic weights are also available.
What are some of the benefits of utilizing Pie Weights?
- Pie weights may be useful for a variety of purposes, including:
- Depressing the pastry to prevent it from puffing up when cooking.
- Preventing the dough from shrinking after rolling it out and placing it in the pan.
- Blind bake before adding additional components like as fruit or custard.
Have some pie weights on hand the next time you prepare a pie.
The 5 Greatest Pie Weight Substitutes
Pie weights have various drawbacks that make them unsuitable for usage.
For example, they are rather hefty and might take up a lot of space in the oven due to the distance required between them and the pan.
They might also be difficult to clean. That is why it is good to have some alternatives on available.
These are the top five pie weight substitutes:
1 cup dried beans or lentils
Pie weights may be replaced with dried beans or legumes.
They are affordable and may be used to keep crusts in place and restrict pastries from shrinking.
Dried beans are lighter than pie weights but have the same impact on the pastry dough.
As an added plus, you may use fresh beans without pre-soaking them.
The disadvantage of utilizing dry beans is that they must be carefully cleaned and rinsed after use.
Lastly, bear in mind that they are vulnerable to taking up scents from other items in the oven, so keep them apart.
2 spheres or steel balls
If you don’t like beans, you may substitute steel balls or spheres.
These weights are often used in clay and ceramic crafts since they do not harm the made item’s surface.
These are typically fairly inexpensive and may be found at any craft shop.
Steel weights, like beans, must be well cleansed before being used to keep pastry dough in place.
Before putting them in the oven, make sure they are completely dry.
3 paperclips or coins
If you’re limited on resources, coins and paper clips may be used to keep the pastry dough in place.
The disadvantage of using coins is that they are hefty and may scratch the surface of your pastry.
Additionally, avoid using paper clips that are covered in plastic or vinyl, as they may melt and leave a residue on your pastry dough.
Finally, for the best effect, distribute them uniformly around the borders of the pan, rather than mounded up in one location.
4 dried pasta/rice
The next option to consider is dry pasta or rice.
These things are light, affordable, and easily accessible at any grocery shop.
You may use them as pie weights by stuffing them into your pastry crust before baking.
When using the pasta or rice as a pie weight, make sure it is absolutely dry since any moisture may bubble up and leave a residue on the dough.
The disadvantage of utilizing this alternative is that it will not perform as well as the others.
Next, before inserting your pasta or rice on the crust, smash it up into little bits so it doesn’t move around during baking.
5 Chains Made of Metal
Lastly, metal chain may be used as pie weights.
Since it is often used in the baking business for this purpose, it may be the most effective alternative on our list.
Several bakers swear by it to save dried pasta from going to waste.
Chain offers various benefits over other alternatives, including being economical and simple to use.
It is composed of metal and will not scratch the surface of your pastry.
Additionally, instead of filling your whole pan with beans or rice, just put it flat on top of your crust before baking.
Although chain might be difficult to come by, if you operate a metal business, you should be able to get your hands on some.
Conclusion
Pie weights are necessary for baking pies using delicate pastry dough.
Yet, there are other replacements that may be employed with equal efficiency.
Depending on your circumstances, each alternative will have a unique set of advantages and disadvantages.
Lastly, make sure the alternatives are completely dry before baking with them to prevent any bubbling or residue on the pastry crust.
FAQs
What can I use if I don’t have pie weights or dried beans?
If you don’t have pie weights or dry beans, another pie dish, if you have one, can suffice. Gently press it into the crust-lined pan, covering both the thin bottom crust and the thick rim.
Can I use pennies as pie weights?
Pennies, beans, or rice
Any kind will suffice as long as you do not attempt to prepare them afterwards. Pennies carry heat effectively as well, so wash them in soapy water and cover the pie crust with paper before weighting it down. Uncooked rice may also be used in place of pie weights.
What kind of beans are best for pie weights?
If you have dry beans in your cupboard, they may also be used as pie weights. Chickpeas, black beans, pinto beans, and even lentils may be used. After a few uses, put them away as pie weights and convert them into supper.
Can you use tin foil as pie weights?
We like to line our pie crusts with foil (preferably heavy duty foil). It may be shaped well and used as a crust guard to balance out the cooking of the sides and bottom while the weights are cooking.
What happens if you don’t use pie weights?
Without filling, the crust might sag down into the dish as it bakes, requiring the use of pie weights to assist retain its form. The bottom expands up when you remove the weights to blind bake the crust.
How do you bake without pie weights?
Instead of weights, nestle a second pie plate — either the same size as or slightly smaller than the crust — within the dough. It holds the crust in place, making it picture-perfect and ready for the filling.
What is the hack for pie weights?
If you don’t have any pie weights, use dried beans or dry rice. When I originally attempted this technique, I used dried beans, but I later switched to pie weights, which worked better.
How to make homemade pie weights?
Fill the interior of the crust with dry beans, grains, or popcorn kernels after lining it with foil or parchment paper. Next, bake your crust according to the recipe’s directions. Your handmade pie weights will most likely be too dry to cook and eat, but don’t throw them away.
Do you grease a pie dish before blind baking?
The short response is usually no. My own version, as mentioned above, has more than enough fat to prevent it from sticking. If you’re using a store-bought pie crust, I’d suggest spritzing it with cooking spray or brushing it with melted butter—but not both.
What can I use as pie weight?
Don’t worry if you’re not ready to invest on pie weights. Several basic household items may suffice; many home bakers will use dry beans as pie weights. Pie weights may be replaced with dry beans, rice, or popcorn kernels.