My Mom Uses This $10 Tool for Absolutely Perfect Pies

If there’s a family dinner, and there is every Sunday, my dad is either making steak or paella. There’s cheese and there’s wine, but the only reason my brothers and I come home (beyond seeing the dogs) is my mom’s pie.

Her lattice-work is unmatched. Her crimping is unrivaled. And even though the filling is always moist and delicious no matter what it is (my favorite is strawberry-rhubarb), there was always one problem. The crust would sometimes get burnt in the oven. That is, until she added these $10 baking shields to her repertoire. Now everyone doesn’t just love her pie, we’re fighting over the last slice.

Mrs. Anderson's Baking Pie Crust Shield, Set of 2

Mrs. Anderson’s Baking Pie Crust Shields are 10 inches in diameter and fit 9.5- and 10-inch pie plates (there’s also a mini option and a 9-inch option). They're made from aluminum and are oven-safe and dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. 

The material is one of the biggest selling points, actually. The rigid structure makes it easier to put on and remove from pies, unlike silicone options. To use it, you just pop it around the pie before it goes into the oven and that’s it. It couldn’t be easier. After all, baking pies is arduous enough. 

So what does this do? This prevents the crust from burning around the edges, which really takes away from the overall appearance of the pie. It’s a simple addition, but my mom uses it every time she bakes a pie these days. 

She’s not the only one. These pie crust protectors have thousands of perfect ratings at Amazon thanks to how easy they are to use. One shopper says they're “the best thing to put over your pie crust so it does not burn.” They add that they used to use aluminum foil, but found it difficult. Now, they write, “I will always use this for all of my pies that [I] have to bake.”

And if your mom doesn’t have one yet, another shopper has an idea: This is a “great little gift for a home baker,” they write.

So what are you waiting for? Grab this pie crust protector for yourself, or your mom. They’ll thank you, and their pies will taste better than ever. 

At the time of publishing, the price was $10.