what causes lemon pie not to set up

“Why, oh why, does my lemon pie always weep?” writes Nadia Niles from Los Angeles. Or have a saggy meringue? Or fall apart when cut? These woes, and more, are frequently sung in chorus for this all-time favorite dessert.

And, after making this pie for days on end―to weed out fact from fiction―my sympathy bordered on self-pity. But persistence prevailed, and here are the secrets for success.

Lemon pie filling has to be almost so thick you can cut it with a knife before you pour it into the shell or it won’t set up.
what causes lemon pie not to set up

Why should the filling be hot when you top it with the meringue?

Steam billowing from a hot filling quickly passes through the baking meringue instead of lingering at the filling-meringue interface. However, some of the steam will collect near the surface of the meringue. As the meringue cools, it contracts (shrinks) slightly―just enough, after a few hours, to pop this moisture onto the surface in tiny golden brown droplets, or beads. The beads form faster if the weather is humid or if the pie is chilled. A tiny bit of cornstarch (such as in the recipe here) whipped with the sugar into the meringue traps some of this moisture and reduces beading.

If the meringue is swirled onto a cool filling and baked, steam in the reheating filling just reaches the meringue. As the pie cools, the steam condenses to form the sweet weeping (sometimes a pool) under the meringue. And when the pie is cut, the meringue is inclined to slip off the wedges.

Why does the pie filling get watery?

For a lemon filling that’s glossy and translucent, and firm enough to cut yet melts in your mouth, cornstarch is the thickener of choice. It’s also a risky one because heat and acid (in the lemon juice) can destroy cornstarch’s ability to thicken or stay thick.

Happily, the most foolproof way to make a perfect lemon filling is also the easiest. Just dump in the ingredients―in a specific order, with a combination of cold, then hot water—and cook them together. As the starch granules swell with the heating liquid and begin to form a thickening network, the sugar and egg yolk proteins join forces, like suits of armor, to coat and protect the starch at its vulnerable bonding points from the effects of heat and acid.

The Best Lemon meringue Pie! No Weep, No Shrink Meringue.

FAQ

Why is my lemon pie not setting?

The key to thickening Lemon Meringue Pie so it sets properly is to cook the filling until bubbles start to pop on the surface of the lemon/egg yolk mixture. It should be the consistency of thick pudding before you remove it from the heat. If it’s not thick before you add it to the pie, it will never set properly.

Why is my lemon pie runny?

Water is leaking from the beaten whites (they’re 87% water), pooling between the filling and the meringue, and dripping down the sides to the crust. The cause? While the meringue cooks on top when it is put into a hot oven, there isn’t sufficient time for the meringue to cook on the bottom.

How do you thicken runny lemon pie filling?

If you already took it off the stove, yes, you can make ‘slurry’ (not a paste) with cornstarch and water and add it in, as you continue stirring, or you can add some gelatin to thicken it. See instructions, below: To use cornstarch as your thickener, heat the sweetened lemon mixture until it simmers.

Why didn’t my lemon curd set?

Trouble shooting: Most Lemon Curds are runny because they don’t get cooked long enough, to 170 degrees F, to thicken the egg yolks – so cook on! If your curd isn’t thickened after 10 minutes, or up to 15 if using a double boiler, then increase the temperature of the stove slightly – and don’t stop whisking!

Why is my lemon pie watery?

The reasons for lemon pie getting watery could be not pre-baking the crust, whipping the lemon custard or meringue too much or not enough, filling the crust while it’s hot, not adding enough corn starch, and not letting it cool before serving. You can do a few things to fix it, depending on the reason.

How do you avoid a watery lemon pie?

To avoid a watery lemon pie, start with a crisp crust. Prepare a single piecrust in a pie pan and chill it slightly. Press a sheet of parchment paper or aluminum foil gently into the piecrust and pour some dry beans or rice over the parchment paper, spreading them evenly. The dry beans act as a weight, keeping the crust from puffing up as it cooks.

Why is my lemon pie filling runny?

Runny lemon pie filling can happen due to a variety of reasons, such as undercooking or overheating the filling, using too much liquid, or not allowing the pie to set properly. It’s important to follow the recipe instructions carefully to avoid runny filling in the future. 4.

Why does my lemon meringue pie get watery?

So why does your lemon meringue pie gets watery, and how to fix it? The reasons for lemon pie getting watery could be not pre-baking the crust, whipping the lemon custard or meringue too much or not enough, filling the crust while it’s hot, not adding enough corn starch, and not letting it cool before serving.

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