Love making pies, but struggle with keeping the crust from burning? Sounds like you need a pie shield! This article will walk you through how to make your very own DIY pie shield out of foil. It's a quick and easy process that will have you saying "goodbye" to future burnt pie crust edges!
As bakers, we've all been there. You put time and effort into making the perfect pie. You measure everything exactly, labor over each step, and scrutinize your oven to find the optimal rack to bake it on.
The pie smells incredible while it's baking, so when the kitchen timer goes off, you can't wait to see your glorious pie. But much to your dismay, when you open the oven door, you see that the crust's edges are burnt. 😔
This is a very common pie problem. But rest assured, there's a very simple fix: a DIY pie shield!
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🤔What is a pie shield and why do I need one?
A pie shield is a great kitchen tool that all bakers should have. It protects a crust's edges from burning. You can buy both disposable and non disposable ones that range in price from $5 to $20 and beyond.
But why outlay that money when it's so easy to make one right in your kitchen? Plus, by making your own, you get the exact size you need for your pie plate--and all you need is the plate, some foil, and your hands.
Of course, you also need a good pie recipe, like Dutch Apple Crumb Pie or Blueberry Crumble Pie (both bake fabulously, by the way, with this DIY pie shield😉).
✅What you'll need
- clean, empty pie plate- you'll want to use the exact pie plate you'll be using in your recipe, before you make the crust
- foil- a wider foil roll comes in handy for this kitchen hack, but if you have the regular width foil (as I often do), you'll just overlap two pieces together. I also find it easier to use regular foil for this simple project as opposed to heavy duty, though both will work
👩🍳How to make a pie crust shield
It really is quite simple when you follow these quick and easy steps:
Step 1: Turn your clean, empty pie plate over so that it's face down.
Step 2: Unroll foil long enough to extend across the pie plate, then cut and lay the sheet on top of it.
Step 3: Press and crimp foil around the bottom of the pie plate (the inner bottom circle, not the outer edge) to form a defined round shape.
Step 4: Lift the foil sheet off of the pie plate. Use scissors to cut a hole in the center, following the creased circle you crimped with your fingers.
Step 5: Your pie shield should look like this when finished (note that we puncture in the center of the foil with the scissors to cut, rather than coming in from the outer edge).
Step 6: Flip the pie plate back to right side up. Test the pie shield by laying it on top, centering it and folding the outer edges down around the outside of the pie plate.
😀Using your DIY pie shield
Recipes vary, so check the instructions to see if using a pie shield is mentioned and follow that advice.
As a general rule of thumb though, I don't use a pie shield the entire time a pie is baking, because it doesn't allow the pie's contents to bake evenly.
You may choose to use the pie shield from the start of bake time, taking it off halfway through. Or, you may put it on for the last half of baking when you notice the crust starting to brown.
🗨️FAQ
Definitely, especially when you make your own. A burnt outer crust can ruin the taste and presentation of a pie. Some pie recipes also require high baking temps, at least for part of the baking time, which can over dry the crust and lead to quick burning.
So technically, yes you can, but here's my problem with that option--it doesn't stay in place. Foil is much better because you can mold it to your pie plate's edges, which ensures that it won't shift or slide when you try to move your pie or when you open and close the oven door.
You definitely want your pie crust to brown, but when it starts to turn medium to dark brown, it's time to cover it with a pie shield and/or take it out of the oven.
Barbara K says
Thanks for the tip. No wonder that my foil paper rim cover keeps falling apart.
Kitchen Ready Betty says
Happy to help! This foil method definitely works.