Are you ready to bake the perfect pie? Learn these tips on how to prevent soggy pie crust and you'll be ready to serve up an evenly-baked, golden-brown pie.
How to Prevent Soggy Pie Crust
Updated on Oct. 07, 2024
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If there’s one secret to making a show-stopping pie, it’s learning how to prevent soggy pie crust. Having a golden-brown, flaky pie crust will make any recipe look and taste irresistible. Thankfully, there are several steps that you can take to achieve pie crust perfection.
1. Pick the Right Pan
It all starts with the pie pan. Choose a glass pie plate or metal pie plate with a dull finish. Glass heats up gradually and allows your crust to bake evenly. Plus, its transparent material makes it easy to keep an eye on how your crust is doing so that you can remove it once it’s golden and crispy. Just don’t forget to grease your glass pie dish before use.
Metal heats up quickly and allows your crust to bake evenly, although it’s a bit more difficult to keep track of your crust’s progress with a metal pan than with a glass pan. Since metal, specifically aluminum, transfers heat the quickest of any other pie pan, we suggest using an aluminum pan to achieve the golden-brown color you want. By the way, be sure to avoid these common pie mistakes.
2. Blind Bake Your Crust
Blind baking is a technique that requires partially baking or fully baking a pie crust before adding any filling. This helps your crust bake evenly and prevents you from ending up with a soggy-bottom pie. Here’s how it works:
First, place the dough in a pie plate and flute the edges. Line the unpricked shell with a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. If desired, fill with dried beans, uncooked rice or pie weights. The weight will keep the crust from puffing up, shrinking and slipping down the pie plate during baking. Bake at 450°F for 8 minutes. Remove foil; bake 5-6 minutes longer or until dry and crisp. Cool on a wire rack. Remove beans and cool; store for reuse.
Test Kitchen Tip: Wondering which fat to use in your pie crust? Our Test Kitchen tested butter, shortening and lard. They agree that the best method for a flaky, delicious pie crust is butter.
3. Brush Your Pie in Egg Wash
Once you’ve pre-baked your pie, brush the bottom and sides of the crust with egg wash, then reheat at 400° for 4 minutes to set the glaze. This creates a seal between the crust and the filling so that your crust stays crispy and golden once the filling is added. Baking an apple pie? Check out our secrets for the perfect apple pie crust.
4. Consider Adding an Extra Filler
This step is optional. Once you’ve pre-baked your crust and sealed it with egg wash, consider adding a dry ingredient—such as cornflakes or breadcrumbs—that acts as a “barrier” before you add the rest of the pie filling. No matter which of our delicious homemade pie recipes you’re baking, this “extra filler” will protect your gooey pie filling from making your pie crust soggy.
5. Create Slits for Double-Crust Pies
For double-crust fruit pies, cut slits in the top crust to allow steam to get out. The escaping steam will prevent moisture from building up in your pie and creating a soggy crust. Plus, there are lots of creative ways to decorate pies that allow for this moisture to ventilate.
It’s also worth considering using a pie bird. Pie birds have a hollow center and are designed to allow steam to escape through pies for optimal ventilation. So if you want to bake pie just like Grandma, a pie bird is the way to go!
6. Bake On a Lower Rack with a Baking Sheet
Line a metal baking sheet with parchment paper and bake your pie on it. The metal baking sheet will absorb heat and transfer it to the bottom of the pie to ensure even browning. Plus, the parchment paper will protect a gooey mess from spilling onto the floor of your oven.
Lastly, bake your pie on the lowest rack in your oven. This step is absolutely crucial to a perfectly browned pie crust since the heat will transfer to the bottom of the pie quicker than the top of the pie—this will allow the bottom crust to become crisp while the top shouldn’t get overly browned.
For more pie tips, these are the best-kept pie-making secrets.
Ready to Bake? Here's Every Pie Recipe You'll Ever Need
French Silk PieI first made French silk pie when I was in high school. Years later, I tinkered with the recipe until I was happy with it. Now it’s one of my husband's favorites. —Lisa Francis, Elba, Alabama
Golden Apple PiePies are the dessert I like best to prepare. This one's the favorite for family get-togethers, and it has been awarded blue ribbons at a couple of local fairs. —Theresa Brazil, Petaluma, California
Check out how this soft pretzel pie crust transforms apple pie!
Texas Pecan PieI won a blue ribbon for this pie at the Texas State Fair. Since I was in the military for more than 20 years, I didn’t really start cooking until after I retired. Now I enjoy spending my time in the kitchen. —Michelle Shockley, Wichita, Kansas
Easy Coconut Cream PieThis coconut cream pie has been a favorite dessert for decades. I even made several of these pies to serve a threshing crew of 21 men! —Vera Moffitt, Oskaloosa, Kansas
Fresh Cherry PieIf you're looking to learn how to make a cherry pie, this recipe is the place to start. This ruby-red cherry pie is just sweet enough, with a hint of almond flavor and a good level of cinnamon. The cherries peeking out of the lattice crust makes it so pretty, too. I like to make a few of these cherry pies throughout the summer. —Josie Bochek, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Get that homemade taste in a fraction of the time. Learn how to make canned cherry pie filling taste better with a handful of not-so-secret tricks.
Creamy Chocolate-Banana PieYou can make almost any dessert more awesome with chocolate. In this cream pie, fresh banana and chocolate make a truly irresistible combo.
—Diane Nemitz, Ludington, Michigan
Cranberry PieThe tart-sweet filling and a perfect, flaky crust make this cranberry pie a bake not to be missed.
Healthy Pumpkin PieDon't worry, our healthy pumpkin pie recipe doesn't shy away from the classic fall flavor you love.
Flaky Bumbleberry PieWhen you want to make an impression, make this pie! The recipe produces one of the flakiest crusts ever, and the combination of rhubarb and different berries in the filling is delicious. —Suzanne Alberts, Onalaska, Wisconsin
Creamy Hazelnut PieI've always been a big fan of peanut butter. Then I found chocolaty Nutella hazelnut spread and I was hooked! I even changed one of my all-time favorite pie recipes by substituting that ingredient. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas
Macaroon Cherry PieI use homegrown cherries in this bountiful pie with its unique crunchy coconut topping. But I've found that purchased tart cherries yield a dessert that's nearly as delicious. I always bake this pie around Presidents Day or Valentine's Day, but it's popular with my family in any season. —Lori Daniels, Beverly, West Virginia
Sweet Potato Pie with Condensed MilkA perfect dessert for Thanksgiving or Christmas, sweet potato pie with condensed milk has a delicious, mildly sweet flavor. Here is how to make it at home.
Caramel Apple PieTreat yourself to a decadent caramel apple pie with a gooey, sweet, spiced filling and a crunchy crumb topping.
Cherry Hand PiesThere's nothing better than a sweet, from-scratch delight like traditional cherry pie. These precious little hand pies always go fast when I sell them at my pie bakery! —Allison Cebulla, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dark Chocolate-Caramel Macchiato PieOne of my first entries in the National Pie Championship was this impressive pie with coffee flavor and cool chocolate curls on top. —Amy Mills, Sebring, Florida
Strawberry Rhubarb PieWhile growing up on a farm, I often ate rhubarb, so it's natural for me to use it in a pie. I prefer to use lard for the flaky pie crust and thin red rhubarb stalks for the filling. These two little secrets helped this strawberry rhubarb pie recipe win top honors at the 2013 Iowa State Fair. —Marianne Carlson, Jefferson, Iowa
Key Lime Cream PieI am very proud of this luscious no-bake beauty. It's so cool and refreshing—perfect for any summer potluck or get-together. Wherever I take this pie, it quickly disappears, and everyone asks for the recipe. —Shirley Rickis, Lady Lake, Florida
Perfect Plum & Peach PieI created this recipe for in-season summer fruit. The plums give the pie a splash of color as well as flavor, and the crumb topping is both easy and excellent! —Rachel Johnson, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
Deep-Dish Apple PieThis deep-dish apple pie is a winner! The crust is so flaky and the filling is sure to please everyone. —Salem Cross Inn, West Brookfield, Massachusetts
Chocolate Cream PieWith a shortened baking window for the crust and a quickly cooked filling, our chocolate cream pie comes together with minimal hands-on time.
Candy Cane PieOur candy cane pie will be a showstopper on your holiday dessert table with its festive look and rich peppermint filling.
Sour Cherry PieWhenever my mom is invited to a party or potluck, everyone requests her homemade double-crust fruit pies. In the summer, she uses fresh tart cherries for this recipe. I love a slice topped with vanilla ice cream. —Pamela Eaton, Monclova, Ohio
Cranberry Walnut PieHere’s a wonderful dessert for Christmas or Thanksgiving. With ruby-red color and a golden lattice crust, this pie looks as good as it tastes. —Diane Everett, Dunkirk, New York
This double pie crust recipe is perfect for this walnut pie.
Favorite Banana Cream PieHomemade banana cream pie is my mom’s specialty, and this dreamy dessert has a wonderful banana flavor. It looks so pretty, and it cuts easily too. —Jodi Grable, Springfield, Missouri
Cranberry-Almond Apple PieMy grandmother made this treat every year for Christmas. It’s much better than everyday apple pie. The recipe is a family treasure. —Maxine Theriauit, Nashua, New Hampshire
Nutella Hand PiesThese pint-sized Nutella hand pies made with puff pastry are too good to keep to yourself! —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Bourbon Pecan PieBourbon pecan pie is so easy, you'll wonder why you haven't been making it all your life. Serve during the holidays, or any time of year, with fresh whipped cream or ice cream.
Sugar Cream PieThis rich, custardy sugar cream pie is an Indiana specialty. With just one bite of this decadent dessert, you’ll see why!
Rhubarb Cherry PieAs a young girl, I dreamed of being able to make pies like my mother. Her rolling pin, which I inherited, is 2 feet long and 8 inches wide! In fact, this is Mom's recipe, although I substituted cherries for the strawberries in her version. I first made this pie for a church gathering 20 years ago, and everyone's looked for it at every potluck since! —Eunice Hurt, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Spiced Butternut Squash PieMy mom always made this dessert with her homegrown squash. It was my dad's favorite after-dinner treat. I continue to make it to this day. —Johnna Poulson, Celebration, Florida.
Banana Split PieThis dessert is special enough to make hamburgers and fries a meal to remember! It's so tall and pretty and just like eating a frozen banana split. Make it ahead to save time. —Joy Collins, Birmingham, Alabama
Peach Crumble PieA delightful summertime pie, this dessert is overflowing with fresh peach flavor. Each sweet slice is packed with old-fashioned appeal. The streusel topping makes this peach crumble pie a little different than the ordinary and adds homemade flair. —Sally Holbrook, Pasadena, California
Fluffy Key Lime PieFor a taste of paradise, try this no-bake Key lime pie recipe. It's low in fat, sugar and fuss. It truly is the best Key lime pie recipe ever! —Frances VanFossan, Warren, Michigan
Shoofly PieMy grandmother made the best shoofly pie in the tradition of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Shoofly pie is to the Pennsylvania Dutch as pecan pie is to a Southerner. —Mark Morgan, Waterford, Wisconsin
Granny's Rhubarb PieThis recipe originated with my grandmother, who baked many different rhubarb desserts. This was always a favorite of mine. —Blanche Baninski Minto North Dakota
Eggnog PieAnyone who likes to imbibe the creamy holiday drink is going to love eggnog pie. A buttery pie crust is paired with an eggnog filling for a festive, simple treat.
We love this butter pie crust as the base for this eggnog pie.
World's Best Lemon PieMother's pies were always so memorable, with tender, flaky crusts. In summer the order of the day was lemon meringue! —Phyllis Kirsling, Junction City, Wisconsin
Marshmallow-Almond Key Lime PieSummer is peak season for Key limes—a must for this pie’s distinctive sweet-tart flavor. Unlike other Key lime pies, mine has a smooth marshmallow layer on top. This makes it stand out as a crowd favorite. —Judy Castranova, New Bern, North Carolina
Praline Pumpkin Pecan PieMy husband and I are not big fans of traditional pumpkin pie, but my mother and others are, so we must have pumpkin pie as one of the desserts at Thanksgiving. I decided to meet everyone halfway with this pumpkin pecan pie recipe and it was a hit. Now I bring it to Thanksgiving every year. My mother doesn't even feel the need to bake her own pumpkin pie! —Emily Reese, Glade Hill, Virginia
Hungry for more? Here’s our collection of the best pecan pie recipes.
Coconut PieWatching my mother cook from scratch, I hardly knew that anything was available "pre-made" until I'd left home. One of Mom's best desserts is her creamy old-fashioned coconut pie. A rich slice is true comfort food. —Mary McGuire, Graham, North Carolina
Chocolate Cherry PieAssures Maxine Smith of Owanka, South Dakota. "This rich and creamy pie is sure to please any dyed-in-the-wool chocoholic!"
Apple PieBaking apple pie from scratch is a fall baking tradition we treasure. Perfect your technique with our apple pie recipe, full of all the tips and tricks you'll need.
Cream PieThis creamy pie recipe, made with whipped cream and cream cheese inside a buttery graham cracker crust, could not be easier.
Sour Cream Raisin PieCreamy, custardy sour cream raisin pie is a nostalgic favorite. It always seems that the best desserts come from the yellowed and splotched recipe cards tucked away in Grandma’s recipe box. This recipe is certainly among the lineup.
Swedish Apple PieThis decadent Swedish apple pie serves up homemade flavor in every bite. This is a perfect snack with coffee or as an after-dinner treat. —Sarah Klier, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Easy Strawberry Lemonade Freezer PieThree simple ingredients mixed together and spread into a graham cracker crust make magic while your freezer does all the work. Prep this pie ahead and freeze it overnight or even longer. Feel free to vary the fruit if you'd like! —Debbie Glasscock, Conway, Arkansas
Contest-Winning Fresh Blueberry PieI've been making this blueberry pie recipe for decades since the ingredients for the filling are readily available in Michigan. Nothing says summer like a piece of fresh blueberry pie! —Linda Kernan, Mason, Michigan
Pineapple PieThis creamy pineapple pie uses canned fruit and whipped cream to create a rich, sweet filling that sits atop a flavorful graham cracker crust. It takes less than 10 minutes to make and will shine on any dessert spread.
Pumpkin PieOur pumpkin pie recipe is so simple, it could've been the catalyst for the "easy as pie" saying. We have all the info you need, from what pumpkin to use to whether you need to blind bake the crust or not.
Creamy Coffee PieIt’s easy to stir mini marshmallows, mini chocolate chips and crushed sandwich cookies into coffee ice cream to create this irresistible frozen dessert. —Cherron Nagel, Columbus, Ohio
Cranberry Apple PieNew England is one of the prime apple- and cranberry-growing regions of the country. This is my all-time favorite cranberry apple pie recipe.
Mom's Custard PieJust a single bite of this traditional custard pie takes me back to the days when Mom would fix this pie for Dad, Grandfather and me. Mom also regularly prepared pies for large gatherings. This dessert was often requested. —Barbara Hyatt, Folsom, California
Contest-Winning Raspberry Cream PieThis recipe is delicious with either fresh-picked or frozen raspberries. That means you can make it year-round. One bite of raspberry pie will instantly turn winter to summer. —Julie Price, Nashville, Tennessee
Easy Peanut Butter & Pretzel PieMy crispy, salty pretzel crust just begs for a creamy no-bake peanut butter filling and a layer of chocolate ganache. — Gina Nistico, Taste Recipes Food Editor
Apple Slab PieApple slab pie is a terrific contribution to a covered-dish supper, picnic or potluck. It’s baked in a large 15x10 baking pan so it’s easy to make and tote, too. But be prepared—people always ask for a copy of the recipe! —Dolores Skrout, Summerhill, Pennsylvania
Spiced Plum PieThe subtle tastes of orange and nutmeg bring out the fresh flavor of plums in this comforting pie. Be sure to have a slice while it's still warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. —Lucille Mead, Ilion, New York
Limoncello Cream PieAfter a big Christmas dinner, we love the cool refreshment of a frozen lemon pie. Limoncello brings a little sophistication to each smooth, creamy slice. —Jessie Grearson-Sapat, Falmouth, Maine
Red, White and Blueberry PieThis creamy pie gets dressed up with berries to make a showstopping display at any Fourth of July party or summer get-together. It's as pretty as it is tasty! —Kimberly McFarland, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Peanut Butter Cream PieDuring the warm months, it's nice to have this fluffy, no-bake peanut butter pie that's a snap to make. Packed with flavor, this pie gets gobbled up even after a big meal! —Jesse & Anne Foust, Bluefield, West Virginia
Easy Confetti PieSugar cone crust makes a pie that tastes like birthday cake when you add a dreamy, creamy no-bake confetti filling. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Key Lime PieWe created this refreshing mini pie with a homemade crumb crust and a pudding-like lime filling. If you can’t find Key lime juice, regular lime juice works just fine. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Southern Bourbon Pecan PieWhen I first made the original recipe for this bourbon-splashed pie, I added some vanilla extract and eliminated the flour. We loved the result. —Paul Falduto, Efland, North Carolina
Banana Cream Pie with PuddingThis easy banana cream pie with pudding requires only six ingredients. Even better, it's no-bake and ready in 10 minutes!
Butterscotch PieThis butterscotch pie is here to prove that butterscotch isn’t just for Grandma and Grandpa.
Cherry Almond Mousse PieTreat your loved ones to a luscious pie with chocolate, cherries and nuts in a creamy vanilla mousse. It's a sweet yet refreshing dessert. —Dorothy Pritchett, Wills Point, Texas
Peach PieOur peach pie recipe features a spiced peach filling nestled inside two buttery, flaky crusts. It’s a delicious and traditional summer treat that stands beautifully in its simplicity, because why change perfection?
Li'l Pecan PiesThese tempting little tarts have all the rich traditional taste of a full-size pecan pie in a much smaller package. The tarts are perfect for two. —Christine Boitos, Livonia, Michigan
Favorite Fresh Raspberry PieThis pretty raspberry pie was practically a staple at our house during the late summer. Our family had raspberry bushes, so we always have pie with fresh raspberry filling. —Emily Dennis, Hancock, Michigan
No-Bake Pumpkin PieIn our no-bake pumpkin pie, layers of fluffy whipped cream and spiced pumpkin rest dreamily inside a cozy graham cracker crust.
Blackberry PieCelebrate the summer harvest with our blackberry pie. One slice, and you’ll see why this pie is the best pie.
Buckeye PieEveryone who eats this pie raves about it! You can cover the whole top with ganache, but leaving part of the filling bare is the traditional way to make it. —Mary Northrup, Alpine, New York
Pear PieCut through the crust of this easy pear pie, and you’ll release a satisfying wisp of cinnamon that confirms the arrival of fall. Inside are sweet, caramelized pears. This pie is perfect with a spoonful of ice cream.
Pumpkin Ice Cream PieThis pretty layered pie is easy to assemble with convenient canned pumpkin, store-bought candy bars and a prepared crust. While it's perfect for a Halloween party, this make-ahead dessert is delicious any time of year.
Apple Cranberry Slab PieMy husband loves pie, so I made one with apples, raspberries and cranberries. It’s so good, I bend the rules and let the grandkids have it for breakfast. —Brenda Smith, Curran, Michigan
Frozen Hawaiian PieCool summer pies are one of Mom's specialties. This version offers pineapple, maraschino cherries and walnuts that are folded into a fluffy filling. It's an easy yet tempting no-bake dessert. —Jennifer Mcquillan, Jacksonville, Florida
Bourbon Chocolate Pecan PieWhen my fiance first made this chocolate bourbon pecan pie for me, I declared it to be the best pie ever! Creamy chocolate combines with crunchy nuts in a great, gooey filling. We can't get enough of this recipe inspired by Kentucky Derby bourbon chocolate pecan pie. —Tanya Taylor, Cary, North Carolina
Mixed Berry PieOur berry pie is the best way to use up those beautiful summer berries. Colorful, juicy berries are tucked into a homemade all-butter pie crust that dares not get a soggy bottom and stays perfectly flaky all the way through.
Lemon Chess PieThis bright and creamy lemon chess pie cuts beautifully and has a smooth texture. It’s one of my favorites. —Hannah LaRue Rider, East Point, Kentucky
Bumbleberry PieIt may have a funny name, but bumbleberry pie makes up for it with lots of berries (three kinds!) and tons of flavor.
Sweet & Salty Truffle PieHomemade truffles—a little bit sweet and a little bit salty—will keep you coming back for more. Store extra truffles in the fridge.—Shirley Warren, Thiensville, Wisconsin
Creamy Lime Pie with Fresh BerriesI combined the tangy tastes of lime and cilantro with cream cheese for this unusual berry pie that showcases seasonal fruit. The ginger cookies add zip to the crust. —Anneliese Barz, Fort Mill, South Carolina
Mile-High Cranberry Meringue PieYour holiday crowd will be blown away when they see this pie with towering meringue on top. Let it sit in your refrigerator for at least four hours for best results. —Marcia Whitney, Gainesville, Florida
Raspberry Pie SquaresMaking pie for a crowd may seem impossible, but not when you turn to this crowd-pleasing recipe! The sweet-tart raspberry filling pairs well with a flaky homemade pastry. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Sour Cream-Lemon PieI first tasted this pie at a local restaurant and hunted around until I found a similar recipe—now it's my husband's favorite. —Martha Sorensen, Fallon, Nevada
Mango Pie with Coconut CrustThis was the first pie I created myself. Mangoes are one of my favorite fruits, and they deserve to be represented in a pie. Of course, everything is better with coconut. —Jennifer Worrell, Niles, Illinois
Loved this recipe? Next time, treat your taste buds to our classic Mango pie.
Easy Lemon PieThis lemon pie recipe is perfectly tart and tangy, and it's perfectly simple to make with just one bowl and a refrigerated pie crust.
