How To Pre Bake Pie Crust

What Does It Mean To Pre Bake Pie Crust?

Pre baking a pie crust is when you bake the unfilled, raw pie crust for a short amount of time before filling. After baking, you then fill the pie with the filling of your choice. You then either bake the filled pie again to cook the filling, OR serve immediately if the filling does not need to be cooked.

There are many good reasons why you should pre bake pie crust.

Cool, right?! It’s such a foolproof method that I now use it for all the custard pie recipes on Hummingbird High!

When Should You Pre Bake Pie Crust?

Here are all the instances for when I recommend the pre baking method:

1. When the crust needs to be baked longer than the filling.

When a recipe instructs you to pre bake a pie crust, that usually means that the pie’s crust and filling have different baking times. One will need to bake for longer in the oven to be done. Typically, the crust takes longer to cook than the filling. This is often the case for pie recipes with custard fillings, like this chocolate chess pie, this pumpkin pie, or this rhubarb custard pie.

Pre baking the crust for those types of pies will give the pie crust a head start by partially baking it. After you add the filling to the partially baked crust and bake the entire thing, both the crust and the filling will be done at the same time.

2. When the filling doesn’t need to be baked or cooked.

Sometimes, the pie crust will need to be completely baked and then filled. This is common for pie recipes like ice cream or pudding pies, where the filling doesn’t need to be baked at all. 

@hummingbirdhigh i think paul hollywood would be proud #nosoggybottoms #pie #baking ♬ Happy Pizza – Tom Howe

How To Pre Bake Pie Crust

Here are the basic steps to pre bake a pie crust:

1. Make your favorite pie crust (or, use a store bought one!).

Follow your recipe’s instructions to make the pie dough.

If you’re looking for a good pie crust recipe, definitely check out my recipe for how to make pie crust in a stand mixer.

@hummingbirdhigh the easiest way to make #pie dough, i promise! #bakingtiktok #bakinghacks ♬ Happy Pizza – Tom Howe

Once you’ve made your pie dough and it’s ready to be assembled, mold it onto the pie plate to form the bottom crust and crimp its edges. Use a fork to prick holes into the bottom and sides of the crust.

2. Freeze the crust before pre baking.

Some recipes will instruct you to bake it right away. But I like to freeze the crust before pre baking. The chilling time allows the gluten in the dough to relax and prevent shrinking when baking.

So I recommend freezing the pie crust for at least 1 hour before pre baking. If you have time, I recommend freezing for even longer—preferably overnight, but for as long as 3 months.

3. Assemble the crust for pre baking.

Once the pie crust is frozen solid, cover it with a sheet of aluminum foil. Make sure that the crimp is completely covered. Pour pie weights over the aluminum foil. The pie weights hold the dough in place. Without them, the crust has a tendency to puff up in the center and slump down the sides of the pan.

You can buy different types of pie weights online or any specialty baking store. However, know that not all pie weights are made equal—I personally think that the weight chains aren’t as effective as the ceramic beans. 

Alternatively, if you don’t want to buy a specialty tool, you can use other items in your pantry and household. You can use uncooked rice or beans, or even the coins in your spare change jar. Just be sure to fill the covered pie crust as much as you can, all the way to the top. Doing so will also help the pie crust keep its shape in the oven.

4. Pre bake the pie crust.

After you’ve prepped your pie, follow to pre bake the pie in the recipe. If your recipe doesn’t have instructions and you’re wondering how long to pre bake the pie, here’s what I do:

5. Egg wash the pre baked pie crust, then bake again.

After 30 to 35 minutes, remove the pie from the oven (but keep the oven on!). Carefully lift out the aluminum foil and pie weights. Then, brush the bottom and sides of the crust with egg white. If your egg white is too thick, add a dash or two of water to thin it out.

Doing so creates a waterproof seal that prevents the the bottom and sides of the crust from absorbing the filling, keeping it crispy. Bake for an additional 5 minutes to set the egg wash.

@hummingbirdhigh no more soggy bottoms! #baking #bakingtiktok #pie ♬ The Great British Bake Off – Tom Howe

Troubleshooting and FAQ

Pre Bake versus Par Bake: Are They Different?

Let’s get some terminology straight. When I was doing research for the pie chapter of my cookbook, Weeknight Baking, I got really confused. I kept seeing a ton of recipes that either instructed me to “pre bake” or “par bake” my pie crust. I wasn’t sure what the difference was between the two. But it turns out they mean the same thing!

How long to pre bake store bought pie crust?

It depends on the kind of store bought pie crust. But in general, I pre bake store bought pie crust at 350°F for 30 minutes.

Note that most store bought pie crusts come molded onto a disposable pie plate. These types of pie crusts usually have instructions on how to pre bake the crust. I encourage you to ignore these instructions.

Why?

Whenever I follow the instructions given by the store bought crust, I find that the resulting crust is never crispy or done enough. I much prefer my method of pre baking pie crust!

What are pie weights and why do I need to use them?

Pie weights are often used when pre baking unfilled pie crusts. The pie weights keep the crust from puffing up in the center. They also help prevent the crust from sliding down the edges of the pie pan.

You can buy pie weights online; they come in many different shapes and sizes. However, similar to frozen pie crust, not all pie weights are created equal! Avoid the chains—often times, they aren’t heavy enough to keep the pie from puffing up and/or sliding down the sides of the pan. Instead, opt for the ceramic balls. I have a set of these in my kitchen!

I don’t have pie weights. What can I use instead?

Alternatively, if you don’t want to add another specialty tool to your crowded kitchen (I get it!), you can DIY pie weights with everyday ingredients and other items. Some people use dried beans and uncooked rice instead of pie weights. They claim that, after doing so, you can still cook the beans and rice to eat like you normally would! However, when I tried this trick, I noticed that both my beans and rice had a funny flavor. Maybe that’s just me, though.

So instead of using beans or rice, I instead recommend you use coins from your spare change jar. The coins won’t melt in the oven, and you can reuse the change after it’s cooled down.

Pie Recipes To Make With Pre Baked Pie Crust

Here are some pie recipes you can try with the new method I just taught you:

• Black Bottom Chocolate Pecan Pie
• Blueberry Crumble Pie
• Chocolate Chess Pie
• Libby’s Pumpkin Pie Recipe, Elevated
• My Best Easy Vegan Pumpkin Pie
• Rhubarb Custard Pie