Pie Crust Protectors and Shields - Protecting Crusts from Burning
Pie Crust Protector: a favorite kitchen utensil
We love pies at our house and when it comes time to make one of our favorite, I have to break out the pie crust protectors. If the pies you are making, take a long time to bake, then these become all the more invaluable. They may seem to not be of much significance, in fact mine are very light weight, and don't look all that impressive. The thing is, these can truly make or break the whole look of your pie, and can prevent a crust from turning dark brown or black.
Holidays in particular seem to be the time that I go crazy with the baking of pies. My grandmother inspired us all, to some degree, to bake great pies and to bake lots of them! I think she enjoyed sending people home with whole pies, like after Thanksgiving Dinner, or at Christmas. She truly enjoyed making every part of the pie, from crust to filling, to even making sure there was some good to top it with, or a la mode. It was a time of baking like crazy, and there are many happy memories associated with it.
The old fashioned way of protecting pies
This is an old way, perhaps just to me, but I do recall the days when I would be baking a pie, and simply nearly panicking that my crust was going to be a dark charcoaled mess when done. Even if the pie itself was perfect, the crust cannot bear the high and long term temperatures without nearly scorching.
I never did master the "folding the foil" around just the pie crust edges technique. I either burned myself trying, if trying to do it while in the oven, or if I didn't do it in the oven, when I put the pie with foil back in, the foil just fell right off. One time I did get it just perfect, but then the filling of the pie itself got poked and messed up by the foil "protectors." This generated a great deal of frustration in me.
It wasn't long, before I was invited to yet another kitchen party demonstration where friends and neighbors and family get together to look over the fun kitchen gadgets and cookware, etc. I saw what I needed! At that time, I needed to get something else, but told myself that NEXT time, for sure in plenty of time for the Thanksgiving Holiday, I would get a set!
Time came and went, and I got busy with life, and on my next birthday, I received a package from my Aunt. She got me these wonderful pie crust protectors!! Now that is a great aunt! For those that know, these are simply the coolest and easiest way to protect your pie creations. They literally, simply sit on top of a pie crust, while baking.
The variations are simple, but make a great effect. You can add them part way through your baking, at half time, or 3/4 time, etc. Everyone wants a golden brown crust, so you have to not have them on for part of the cooking time. Whether you make a regular flour crust, graham cracker crust, cookie crust, or even a nut crust, you will benefit from using these pie crust shields. Just watch your pies, and as needed, simply add on your pie crust shield, it couldn't be easier. They rest very lightly on top, and don't even crush your pie crust, if you like to flute the edges or have a fancy design. This is a brilliant idea!
Now, If my crust or pie "flops" at all, it won't be for the lack of pie crust protectors!! Its like an night and day difference, and I would highly recommend getting these. For such a small investment, you won't find anything handier, especially if you like to bake pies at all. To whoever created the pie crust protectors, or pie crust shields, thank you!
