6 Best Pie Weights Substitutes for Any Baking Project
Chances are, you can find at least one of these in your kitchen.
Pie-making doesn't have to be fussy, but there are a few steps you can take to make sure your best pies are top-notch. The key to making a delicious pie everyone will love starts with a perfect pie crust recipe. Then, there's the technique: If you're making a pumpkin pie or any kind of pie where the filling isn't baked, you'll need to blind bake the crust. That means your recipe probably calls for pie weights, but don't worry if you don't have any! There are a few pie weights substitutes you can use that work just as well.
Blind baking is when you pre-bake your pie crust before adding the filling. It's a key step for any kind of custard-based recipe like chess pie, because it prevents the pie crust from getting soggy (you don't want to add a liquid filling to an unbaked pie crust!). You'll also need to blind bake your crust if your pie filling doesn't get baked at all (like banana cream pie).
To blind bake, just roll out your dough with a rolling pin and transfer it to your pie pan; crimp the edges with a fork or your fingers however you like. Now comes the important part: You'll need to line the crust with foil or parchment and then weigh it down with something to prevent it from puffing up too much in the oven. Most recipes call for pie weights, but there are so many other things you can use as a substitute for pie weights—read on for the best options!
Uncooked Rice
Put that big bag of rice in your pantry to good use! It's perfect for weighing down a pie crust—just use enough to cover the bottom. Just be sure to use uncooked rice, as cooked rice gets fluffy and lightweight.
Popcorn Kernels
Set aside a bag of popcorn kernels to use as a pie weights substitute! They work just as well. Just don't use them for popping afterward—they'll dry out in the oven.
Sugar
If you're baking a lot of pies, chances are you have plenty of granulated sugar on hand—use it as a substitute for pie weights! Just note that this swap is a little messier than the others, as the sugar can easily spill out onto your crust (which is not necessarily a bad thing).
Dried Beans
Dried beans are the perfect size and shape to weigh down your pie crust—this is probably the most common sub for pie weights. Set aside a bag of dried beans for this purpose, because you can't cook and eat them after they've been used.
Another Pie Dish
After lining your pie crust with foil or parchment paper, carefully place the bottom of another pie dish on top—the top dish will keep the bottom crust from puffing up too much. Then, proceed as the recipe directs.
Coins
Especially if you use quarters, you won't need a lot of coins to weigh down your crust. Because the metal in the coins conducts heat so well, opt for parchment paper to line the pan instead of aluminum foil. And be careful when removing the coins, because they will be very, very hot!
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