The Complete Guide To Pie Pan Sizes

Pie pans, also called pie dishes, pie plates, pie tins, etc., come in different sizes. They range from eight to twelve inches wide and one to two inches tall. The standard size of a pie pan is nine inches wide because most recipes fit inside perfectly. However, you can always tweak your recipes to fit your pie pan.

This article will cover

• Essential Things To Know About Pie Pan Sizes
• Types Of Pie Pan Sizes
• Factors That Influence Pie Pan Sizes
• How To Make Your Pie Pans Last Longer

Essential Things To Know About Pie Pan Sizes

The size of a pie pan affects the results you get when baking your pie. As such, you should choose a pie pan of the perfect size.

Type of Pan	Diameter (inches)	Depth (inches)	Best Used For
Mini Pie Pan	4, 5, 6	0.5	Chicken pot pies, mini cakes, pot pies
Standard Pie Pan	9	1 to 1.5	Custard pies, cookie crusts
Deep Pie Pan	9.5, 10	1.4	Fruit pies, apple pies, rhubarb pies, blueberry pies

Depth

Standard pie pans are approximately one to one and a half inches deep. However, some pie pans are one to one-and-a-half inches deep. These are called deep-dish pie pans; they can contain large pie recipes. Besides, deep pie pans ensure your pie has adequate moisture, thereby preventing the flavors from escaping.

This is because the center of your pie will have a constant temperature and has a lower exposure to evaporation. However, baking with deep pie pans takes a longer process because it takes time for heat to penetrate the center of the pan.

On the other hand, shallow pie pans are suitable for baking small pie recipes, which will likely get burnt if you use a deep pie dish. Besides, hot air circulates in a shallow pie, which browns your pie.

This isn’t the same for a deep pie pan; your pie crust might not brown as you want in a deep pie pan. With a shallow pie pan, it doesn’t take much time for your pie to get baked uniformly as well. However, shallow pie pans have lower exposure to heat, making your pie dry.

Width

While depth refers to the height of your pie pan, width refers to the circumference of your pan. It means how big your pie pan is. Your recipe determines the width of the pie pan you should buy. For instance, if you are looking to bake a mini pie, six-inches wide pans are good.

However, if you want to bake large pies, you should use nine-inches wide pie pans and above. If your pan is larger than the recipe, some areas of the pan will be exposed, and this will lead to quicker evaporation. However, you can always scale your recipe up or down to fit your pan size. 

The width and depth of your pie pan depend on your recipe. For instance, if you want your pie to hold more moisture, you should buy a deep pie dish. However, you can use the standard pie pan, which is nine inches wide and approximately one to one and a half inches deep because it is adaptable.

Types Of Pie Pan Sizes

There are different sizes of pie pans available in the market. What you choose depends on factors such as the number of servings, recipe, etc. Before you buy a pie pan, read the details on it to know the size. 

Standard-depth pie pans

Also referred to as conventional pie pans, these pans are nine inches wide and one inch deep. They are great for baking pies that don’t need much depth, such as custard pies, cookie crusts, etc. Sometimes, some can be one-quarter inch deep.

Measure the inside of the pan to know the correct size of the pan. Standard pie pans have the perfect depth; they can hold large recipes without your pie spilling over. The pie crust, if you make the perfect dough and follow the proper baking practices, is always flaky and crisp.

When you use a standard pie pan, you should get six to eight pie slices. However, it can be more or less depending on how large the slices are. To get the perfect pie slice, first, refrigerate the pie and use a serrated knife to cut through the middle first before the edges.

Deep pie pans

Deep pie pans are pans with dimensions larger than the standard pie pans and can hold larger recipes. For instance, they can be 9.5 or 10 inches wide and 1.4 inches deep. With a deep pie pan, you’ll get more pie crust and filling.

Standard pie pans usually don’t provide dense slices of pie; the slices are more like slabs. Deep pie pans are great for baking fruit pies that will have more fruits in every slice. You can also use deep pie pans for baking apple pies, rhubarb pies, blueberry pies, etc.  

Mini pie pans

Mini pie pans are smaller than standard pie pans. They come in different variations; some are four, five, or six inches wide and ½ inch deep. They are suitable for baking chicken pot pies, mini cakes, pot pies, etc.

If you want to present to your guest’s pies with different flavors, you can use mini pie pans. You can get two or three slices out of a six-inch mini pie pan. You can also scale down your standard or deep pie recipes to mini pie pans. 

Factors That Influence Pie Pan Sizes

To get the perfect pie crust, you have to be deliberate about the size of the pie pan you choose. Wrong pie pan sizes will ruin your efforts. Here are some of the things that should determine your pie pan size:

Pie recipe

Your pie recipe determines the size of the pie pan you should use. For instance, the pan that will hold 5 cups of flour and more fruits will be bigger than the one that will hold 2 cups or less.

This is why larger pie recipes are baked in deep pie pans, and individual pie pans are used for baking mini pies. You must know the exact measurements for your recipe so that you can choose the correct pan size. 

Number of servings

The number of people you want to feed determines both your recipe and the pan size. If you’re going to cut your pie into 10 moderately-sized slices, you need a larger pie recipe and a deep pie pan.

If you want to feed yourself only, you can consider using a mini pie pan. Also, you have to consider the appetites of those you want to feed. For instance, adults who exert much energy when working will require larger pie slices than teenagers at a party.

The depth of the filling

Your pie pan size determines how dense your filling will be. The larger the pie pan, the thicker the filling. For instance, a fruit pie requires more filling than a custard pie. As such, deep pie plates are best for baking fruit pies, while custard pies do well in the standard-depth pie pans.

The depth of the filling also determines the thickness of your pie. If your filling is small, your pie slice will mostly look like a slab. If your filling is large, it will have more depth, and your pie slice will be thicker. However, ensure you prepare your filling well to avoid runny fillings. 

While you should read the details on the pie pan before you buy it, you shouldn’t totally trust what you read. Some pie pans are pegged at a specific inch in the details, while they are smaller in reality. After reading the details, measure the pie pan’s interior from edge to edge across the middle and the height of the pan. This way, you will know the exact dimensions of your pie pans.

How To Make Your Pie Pans Last Longer

Choosing the right pan size is only one step in getting the perfect pie pan. You have to invest effort into making your pie pans last longer. Like every other kitchen pan, pie pans need to be cared for if you want them to produce good results. 

Clean after use

Don’t leave your pie pans till the next day before you clean them. Instead, clean them after use once they are cool enough for you to handle. You can wipe your pie pans clean with a soft cloth or use mild soap and water. Don’t use acidic detergents or harsh scrubbing pads to clean your pie pans. Also, dry the pans immediately to prevent rusting, especially if they are made with carbon steel.

Maintain the pan as the material demands

The material the pie pan is made with determines how you maintain it. For instance, if the pie dish is made of glass, it is unwise for you to scrub any stain on it with abrasive cleaning agents. A solution of dishwashing liquid and baking soda can easily remove the grime.

For a stainless steel pie pan, you can boil it in water. Ensure all sides are immersed in water. If your pan needs seasoning, ensure you do it as well. The proper maintenance will make your pie pan last longer. 

Don’t scrape your pie pan

It is wrong to scratch or scrape your pie pans, especially if they are made of ceramic. If there are burnt pie residues on the pan, use a mild commercial cleaning solution or make one yourself to get rid of it. Scratching your pans will ruin the baking surfaces. 

Replace your pans when needed 

The material of your pie pan determines its lifespan. For instance, nonstick pans have a lifespan of about five years, while stainless steel pans can last a lifetime when used and maintained correctly.

For pie pans that don’t last a lifetime, replace them when they no longer work as they should, and you can’t re-season them to their original state. Using them when their use has expired can contaminate your pie or make it turn out badly. Besides, your old pans can serve other purposes outside the kitchen.

Summary

It is essential that you choose the right pan size because it determines how well your pie will turn out. Every pie recipe is tailored to fit a specific pan size, but you can always scale your recipe up or down to fit the size of your pie pan.  To save yourself the stress, however, use a standard-depth pie pan.