Frozen crusts have a long shelf life as they can stay on the freezer for as long as two months. Every baking savvy or beginner knows that there are instances when baking a frozen pie crust is needed. Mainly, it helps baking to be faster and easier. This also depends on what is to be baked because one may choose between partially prebaking or fully baking the crust before filling it in. This is also called ‘blind baking.’ Here are the steps on how to bake frozen pie crust:
The first one is intended for pies that require wet ingredients like quiches or pumpkin pies. A flaky crust at the bottom part is desired rather than mushy, and these steps help achieve that.
Procedures on How to Bake Frozen Pie Crust (Partially Cooked):
- Let the frozen crust sit at room temperature within 15 minutes before prebaking.
- With a fork, prick the dough. Line the inside part of the dough using a parchment paper. An aluminum foil may be used too. Pricking the dough with a fork helps to reduce bubbling.
- Place pie weights on top of the liner (the parchment paper or aluminum foil). Dry beans may be used as pie weights.
- Bake the crust at 375 degrees Fahrenheit in 12 to 15 minutes.
- Remove the weights and the liner first. At this point, bake it for another 5 minutes.
- Get your filling of choice and then fill the crust.
- Start baking the pie according to the steps of its recipe.
- Remember to use a foil ring to cover the edges of the crust. This prevents burning while you are baking the pie.
As said before, one should know when pies need to be baked or not. There are pies that need to bake like puddings, chocolate or apple. It depends on your choices. Fresh strawberry pies are the best examples of this.
Procedures on How to Bake Frozen Pie Crust (fully cooked):
- For at least 15 minutes, defrost the frozen pie crust.
- Prick the bottom using a fork.
- Use parchment paper or aluminum foil as liners for the crust.
- Place the pie weights on top of the liners. Dry beans may be used for this.
- Bake it for 375 degrees Fahrenheit in at least 12 to 15 minutes.
- Remove the pie weights and liners.
- Place the crust again inside the oven. Bake for another 7 to 10 minutes. Observe until the crusts’ edges are golden brown. The bottom part of the crust must begin to brown too.
- Set aside the crust. Let it cool, then fill with filling of choice.
Next are steps on how to bake frozen pie crust intended for dishes and pies that are just between not as wet or as flaky such as apple pies topped with crumbs. The steps are different and yet just as simple as the ones above.
Procedures on How to Bake Frozen Pie Crust with Filling:
- For 15 minutes, allow the crust to defrost.
- With a fork, prick the bottom to avoid bubbling.
- Fill it with the desired filling.
- Follow the steps of baking your recipe.
What if deep dish cherry or peach pie is what you want? If you want to know how to bake the frozen pie crust for pies with a top and bottom crusts, follow these:
Procedures on How to Bake Frozen Pie Crust (for two-crust pies):
- For at least 15 minutes, allow the pie to defrost.
- Prick the bottom part of the crust with a fork.
- Moisten the crust’s edges with water.
- Add your filling.
- Using your finger together, pinch the edges of the top and bottom crusts, top the pie with the second crust.
- Proceed with baking the pie according to its recipe.
A word of note, though: a common problem encountered when blind baking is that as the dough bakes, the fat in it melts, causing the dough to shrink down to the sides of the dish. This is because of the steam that is being created as the fat melts. However, that steam may do both good and bad. The good side is it gives tasty layers and flakes on the crust. The bad side is because of that steam. The crust becomes puffed up when there is no heavy filling. The result? A weighed-down crust.
This is why, as noticed in all of the procedures stated here, pie weights are needed. There are pie weights sold in stores for baking supplies. Some use granulated sugar. Pie weights aren’t just limited to dry beans like what is mentioned in the steps above.
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I’ve opted to create my cupcake toppers with paper for this tutorial, but don’t feel limited to that. There are also more choices out there like edible ones and find fascinating on how to make superman cupcake toppers.
Your Perfect Pie Crust
Now you know when to use ‘blind baking’ depending on what kind of pies or dishes you want to do. Knowing how to bake frozen pie crust takes your baking skills another level up.
But don’t be overwhelmed yet. Make sure you still learn by reading through some other tips on baking and put these steps into practice towards perfectly baked frozen pie crusts. As a baking line goes: “In perfect pies, we crust.” Know more about pies.