Golden tips for using a pie maker
PREHEAT, CLEAN AND DON’T OVERFILL GOOD STARTING POINTS
If you’re new to the pie maker game, you might not know the myriad tips and tricks to make perfect pies. Should you preheat the pie maker? Should you grease the pie holes? What’s the best pastry? How much filling should you use? These are some of the questions novice pie maker users ask. But whatever your level of experience, there is always room for a few foundational tips to improve your results. These tips will help you create delicious, crispy pies in a jiffy – and we’re confident they’ll earn a place at the next school bake sale.
GREASE YOUR PIE MAKER
It’s essential to place a light coating of oil or butter on the bottom and the top of the pie holes. This helps you create a crispy pie similar to those you buy from the bakery.
PREHEATING PAYS
Heating up a pie maker is nothing like preheating an oven. It takes only a few minutes for the pie maker to heat up, so, understandably, some people skip this step. But it’s important to preheat the pie maker so you have a better chance of a crispy pie shell right from the start of the cooking process.
PREP WHILE PREHEATING
The few minutes required to preheat the pie maker are best used for cutting up pastry tops and bottoms. Try using various pastry cutters for aesthetic flair. However, don’t cut too many because pastry can quickly become challenging to handle.
DON’T OVERFILL
The best pies aren’t bulging with filling. You should fill the pie holes to about ¾ of their capacity, so you don’t cause holes in the pastry.
CLEAN WHILE IT’S WARM
Even convenience tools such as pie makers require maintenance to prolong their lifespan. The good news is, because of their non-stick coating, pie makers are easy to clean. Simply wipe the surface when the pie maker is warm so that any melted bits can be whisked away quickly instead of being left to harden. By cleaning the pie maker each time you use it, you’re setting yourself up for ease and success next time you make pies.