Autumn is Here: Time for Pie!
With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, it’s the ideal time to up your pie-baking game by investing in a quality stainless steel pie pan. 360 Cookware has the perfect pie pan that will render the ubiquitous disposable pie pan obsolete!
Pie Pan Materials
Aluminum
Many bakers swear by one-use aluminum pie pans. After all, you never have to worry about leaving a precious piece of bakeware behind after a community potluck or dinner at a friend’s when you bring your home-baked pie in a disposable pan. However, over your lifetime, that’s a lot of garbage generated. Wouldn’t you rather invest in one pie pan that will last you for decades to come? Foil pans have other downsides as well. Because they are made of a single flimsy layer, you’ll find that you usually have to slide a tray underneath when carrying it. They also don’t bake very evenly, leaving the risk of a soggy bottom crust.
Of course, there are also reusable pie pans made of aluminum, with or without a nonstick coating. However, both the bare aluminum and the coatings can be hazardous to your health, as toxins may end up in your pie. It’s best to pass on these options when shopping for a pie pan.
Glass and Ceramic
Pyrex or glass pie pans are a popular choice, but they aren’t perfect either. While they let you see the bottom of the crust as it bakes, glass isn’t the most efficient conductor of heat, and so it may not brown evenly. There’s also the risk of the glass shattering if the hot pie dish is placed on too cool a surface after you pull the finished pie out of the oven.
Ceramic pie pans may look great, as they come in a wide variety of attractive colors and styles, but they are the most likely to produce a soggy crust, as they are slow to distribute heat. You might also have more trouble with the crust sticking to the surface when it’s time to serve dessert.
Cast Iron
While cast iron pie pans are available, they are heavy and can be unwieldy and awkward to use. Because they take some time to heat up, the crust will come out less flaky, and will take longer in the oven. If you’re in a crunch and need to bake a pie without a suitable metal pie pan, you can use a cast iron skillet as a substitute, but it’s best to be prepared with a good quality stainless steel pie pan ready to go!
Stainless Steel
And when it comes to stainless steel pie pans, we’ve got you covered! Our 360 Bakeware Pie Pan is a high-quality piece that will last you a lifetime. Made of surgical-grade stainless steel, with an aluminum core for superior heat conduction, there is no risk of toxins leaching into your pie. This pie pan is not only functional but also attractive enough to go from oven to table. It’s oven-safe to 500°, with a deep rim so it’s easy to carry. Whether you’re baking a sweet apple pie or a savory quiche, this is the best pie pan.
Measuring a Pie Pan
If you’re new to baking, you might be at a loss when reading a recipe that calls for a specific diameter of pie pan. Do you measure the pie pan across the top, or at the bottom? Do you include the rim?
It’s easy to find out how big a pie pan is. Simply measure from the inside edge of the rim across the middle. That’s the dimension that will be used in recipe instructions.
Tart Pan vs Pie Pan
Sometimes you will see a tart pan specified in a recipe. What’s the difference? A tart pan has straight sides rather than sloped, is often fluted, and is usually shallower than a pie pan. The tart is lifted out of the pan before serving, whereas pies are usually served straight from the pie pan. Some tart pans have removable bottoms to make it easier to lift the tart out.
If you have a tart recipe, and no tart pan, do not despair! In a pinch, you can bake your tart in a pie pan, but may have to settle for serving it from the dish, as removing it may be more difficult. Consider using a springform cake pan if you have one.
Let’s Get Baking!
Speaking of pie recipes, we’ve got some classics for you in our recipe section.
Our apple pie recipe is perfect for seasonal celebrations like Thanksgiving or Christmas. Whether you pick apples yourself at a local orchard or pick them up at a country market, this sweet, cinnamony dessert is even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a slice of nippy old cheddar.
While it may be more of a summer treat, our key lime pie would be a hit at any time of the year! Topped with a dollop of whipped cream, this sweet and tangy pie is always a favorite.
Whether you’re a fan of fruit pie, custard pie, or even a chicken pot pie, our stainless steel pie pan is perfect for creating a dish that everyone will enjoy!