Pie Pan

Generally speaking, just the smell of a pie baking in the oven is enough to get our collective mouths watering like virtually nothing else in the world can. There's a good reason for that -- many people turned to baking pies as a way of connecting a family together, right up there with fresh baked cookies and even cakes.

However, if you're really serious being baking a good pie, you'll have to think about more than just the ingredients that go into a good pie. You will need to think about the actual pie tools themselves, and two of the most important pieces of the puzzle are definitely the pie pan and the previously discussed pie bird.

Without a good pie pan, you really can't get a great pie that will deliver compliments over and over again from family and friends. Thankfully, buying a great pie pan is something that is actually much easier than it looks at first glance. Here's how to get the job done in the least amount of time while keeping your budget intact.  

First, it's important to keep in mind that material definitely matters. The reason why picking the right material is so important is because you want to make sure that you get a durable pie pan that you can use over and over again. On the other hand, if you're planning on serving the pie at a picnic or another social function where disposability is a must, then you will want to make sure that you go for a material that is relatively inexpensive.

If you're looking for the ultimate in durable pie pan materials, you really can't go wrong with a good glass pie pan that can simply be washed and reused anytime you want to bake a nice pie for your family.  When it comes to inexpensive pie pan materials, you will want to stay on the aluminum side, since this material is easy to replace once you need another one.

Next, you will want to think about the size of the pie pan that you want to actually pick up. While there's a standard size ideal for a great pie, cooks are now leaning more towards big "jumbo" pies that can feed a larger group. This throws off a lot of classic recipes, but it can definitely be done as long as you are willing to get the right pie pan for the purpose. The most common size is still a 9-inch pie pan, and that's the size that's recommended if you really want the best tasting pies. 

Finally, a guide on buying a good pie pan would not be complete without just a few words on how to actually take care of it. You will want to make sure that you thoroughly wash out your pie pan before as well as after each use to make sure that the surface is kept as clean as possible. This will keep your family safe and avoid having them become sick from leftover bacteria from stuck on food.