If youre making holiday pumpkin pies and out of pie weights, this Pie Weights Substitute Guide is what you need to nail blind baking! From rice to beans and corn kernels there are a variety of ways that you can easily make the perfect pie crust without any fancy equipment. So the next time you come across a recipe that calls for pie weights, do not worry, youve got lots of options right in your pantry![feast_advanced_jump_to]
What Can You Use Instead of Pie Weights? Instead of pie weights, you can use dried beans or rice, granulated sugar, popcorn kernels or steel ball bearings. If you are not using pie weights, the idea is to mimic what the pie weight does and to make sure that the alternative is oven-safe.
Especially if you use quarters, you wont 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!
Set aside a bag of popcorn kernels to use as a pie weights substitute! They work just as well. Just dont use them for popping afterward—theyll dry out in the oven.
Blind baking is when you pre-bake your pie crust before adding the filling. Its a key step for any kind of custard-based recipe like chess pie, because it prevents the pie crust from getting soggy (you dont want to add a liquid filling to an unbaked pie crust!). Youll also need to blind bake your crust if your pie filling doesnt get baked at all (like banana cream pie).
If youre 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).Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Put that big bag of rice in your pantry to good use! Its 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.
Dried Beans or Lentils
Dried beans are the most commonly used pie weights substitute. Smaller beans are the perfect size and easily mold into all the corners of the crust, but any size of beans will work. And the same beans can be used over and over for all your blind baking needs.
Here’s How to Blind Bake a Pie Crust
FAQ
How do you blind bake pastry without weights?
What if I don’t have pie weights?
How do you make homemade pie weights?
What is a substitute for pie weights?
These pie weights substitutes include sugar, metal items, pie dish, dried rice, beans, popcorn kernels, and docks. If you have ever used pastry before to make a pie or tart, you will likely be aware that you need to blind bake the pastry first. Often, recipes call for the use of pie weights.
What are the best substitutes for butter?
The substitute that you might want to use depends on what you are using butter for. In baking you can use any fat such as olive oil, nut butters, or even avocados. In baking you can also substitute non-fats for butter such as Greek yogurt, mashed bananas, pumpkin puree, or even applesauce. For replacing butter as a spread, you can use any fat, hummus, avocado, nut butter, or cheese. For cooking, canola oil can be a great sub, or avocado oil is also good because it has a high smoke point.
What can I use if I don’t have pie weights?
Pie weights are used to prevent the pie crust from bubbling or shrinking. However, if you don’t have pie weights, you can use beans, rice, lentils, sugar, glass marbles, or some of the next products. Let’s learn more about these substitutes.
What can I use instead of pie weights for Blind baking?
While there’s a large variety of pie weights (see how they’re typically used) available today for the home baker, you can use plenty of substitutes if you’re in a hurry and different techniques for blind baking. Some simple alternatives for pie weights include dried rice, beans, corn, steel balls, metal chains, sugar, and a smaller pie form.