what pie crust should we use?

Question

me and a friend are making pies, we don't know if we should use already made pie crust, pie crust mix, or make it from scratch

what do you think we should do?

Answer 1

Making pie crust is easy. I use my food processor and it is infinitely better than store brand. Most popular store brands of pie crusts (pillsbury , ritz....etc) taste average at their best and terrible at their worst. If you are lucky to have a whole foods market around, they sell a butter based pre-made pie crust. Trader Joes might also sell one.
I would rather not make a pie than use one of the blah tasting crusts however.

Answer 2

Scratch is best, if you have the patience to do it right.

If not, use Pillsbury unroll and bake crusts.

Frozen would be my last choice.


Awesome Pie Crust
(makes a single crust)

1 C. All Purpose Flour
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 stick butter
1 1/2 Tbsp. shortening
1/8 C. Ice water

Put flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Cut the butter, and shortening into the flour. Process a few seconds until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Drop by drop add the water, processing briefly. The whole process should take about 20 to 30 seconds. Wrap and chill for an hour. Remove from refrigerator, and let stand 15 minutes before rolling. OK to double recipe for a double-crust pie.

Answer 3

Is this your first time making pies?

Are they for the holidays or just for personal meals?

If it is your first time, I would stick with the Pilsbury crust to start. As you become more experienced, you will mess around more with scratch recipes and find the pie crust you really like...but to start with, I would use an already made one.

If it is your first time and you are making them for the holidays, definitely go with a premade crust. This way, you will get a good crust and not have as much work to do....there is a lot to get done for Thanksgiving and having to re-make pies if the home-made crust doesn't come out could be a total pain.

The already made (frozen) pie crusts are handy, but they tend to be a bit thicker than Pilsury roll crusts or home-made ones.

If you are making pies that are "juicier"...apple, cherry, blueberry etc.......then the frozen (already made) crusts are okay....because the thicker crust will help to keep the pie juices in and keep a sturdier base when cutting/serving.

If you are making cream pies I would recommend the roll out crusts (already made but not frozen). They are lighter, fluffier and go better with the cream pies. (Lemon merengue, Chocolate, banana cream etc)

If you are making Pumpkin, it all depends on your personal taste.
Frozen, already made are thickest
Pilsbury roll out are fluffier and lighter
Scratch are whatever thickness you choose to roll out (although I would hope you keep them fairly thin, you don't want gooey pie crusts...which will happen with a crust that is too thick)

If you are making a pie that would go well with graham cracker crust...I would recommend the already made crusts......making them from scratch for the first time---they tend to be a bit too greasy until you get the butter down right.


Good luck and happy Eating!

Answer 4

The all ready made ones. I can cook or bake any thing but could never make a pie crust. It is the filling that makes your pie. Have fun

Answer 5

Pie crusts can be tricky- but they are superior when made from scratch. However, Trader Joe's has a frozen crust that I have used and found to be almost as good. If you have a TJ's near you- go with that one, if not, make your own.

Answer 6

Well most frozen pie crusts will work out and tastes just fine.The frozen roll out from Pillsbury work out very well. Stay away from the chappies. Hard to work with .
Boxed mixes also work well but you have to be able to handle it more.
Just watch out for the sugar in it .

Answer 7

The already made pie crust from Pillsbury are really good and taste almost like homemade. I am using them to make my pies. They are so much easier than making homemade.

Answer 8

itl depends on the pies you are making for custard and pumpkin i would make them from scratch using flour lard and milk with fruit pies pillsbury ready to use pie crust is good and if you are in a big hurry then by all means buy frozen

Answer 9

I almost always use a frozen pie crust from the store, Pet Ritz or any other name brand, they are always good and save you lots of time and trouble

Answer 10

if you don't feel like making pie dough from scatch, pillsbury makes pie crusts that you just have to unroll. they taste great and are a really good convenience product.