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Best Pie Pans

Updated November 2022
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Lodge 9 Inch Seasoned Cast Iron Pie Pan
Lodge
9 Inch Seasoned Cast Iron Pie Pan
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Expert-Recommended
Bottom Line

The cast iron allows this pan to thrive at low and slow bakes, according to our baking expert.

Pros

The cast iron helps maintain heat across the entire baked good. Has a unique lip that gives pies that classic "wavy" look. Some users noted that the seasoning of the cast iron provides a unique flavor that you don't receive from other pans.

Cons

Can be kind of a pain to clean out after the pie is done.

Best Bang for the Buck
OXO Good Grips Glass Pie Plate with Lid
OXO Good Grips
Glass Pie Plate with Lid
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Comprehensive Set
Bottom Line

If you’ve ever worried about how to protect dessert while on the go, try this hardy glass option.

Pros

BPA-free plastic lid is vented for air circulation, is designed to prevent sloshing, and protects tall or delicate crusts. Borosilicate glass withstands freezer-to-oven temperature shock better than tempered glass. Nice 9-inch diameter with scale measure marks. Dishwasher-safe.

Cons

Some reports of breakage during use. Vented lid won’t keep pests out.

Pyrex Easy Grab 9.5" Pie Plate (2-pack)
Pyrex
Easy Grab 9.5" Pie Plate (2-pack)
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Classic Design
Bottom Line

Easy-to-clean Pyrex bakeware has a wider lip to make it easier to take out of the oven.

Pros

Cooks smoothly and evenly. Has a wide scalloped edge to help flute the sides of your crust beautifully. Clear material helps you see when your crust is done. At 9.5", it's just a little wider than some other bakeware options. Comes in a set of 2. Freezer- and microwave-safe.

Cons

Top-rack dishwashing only. A bit larger than most recipes call for.

Lindy's 9" Pie Pan
Lindy's
9" Pie Pan
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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

Our expert noted that stainless steel gives you crispy edges on your crust and boasts more durability than aluminum options.

Pros

A nice size. Very durable. Doesn't tarnish like aluminum. Stays looking new for a long time. Mirror-finished for easy crust release. Simple dishwasher care. A good weight. Withstands thermal shock of freezer-to-oven baking. No worries about breakage.

Cons

Metal can cause browning and burning faster than other materials.

USA Pan Aluminized Steel Pie Pan, 9-inch
USA Pan
Aluminized Steel Pie Pan, 9"
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Sturdy & Durable
Bottom Line

An inexpensive standard in most kitchens, according to our expert.

Pros

Made of heavy-gauge aluminized steel for corrosion resistance, strength, and even heating. Trademark grooved surface allows greater air circulation and aids in heat distribution and release. Nonstick coating is PTFE-, PFOA-, and BPA-free. Reinforced rims resist warping at up to 450 degrees.

Cons

Some reports of coating flaking off during transport.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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Buying guide for Best pie pans

There's nothing quite like cutting through a golden, flaky pastry crust to reveal a delicious filling inside, whether you're baking a classic fruit pie or something more unusual, like a curried chickpea pie. Of course, to bake the perfect pie, you need the perfect pie pan. 

Before choosing a pie pan, you should carefully consider which one is right for you. Material is more important than many people realize, with different materials giving a range of results. You also need to choose a pie dish of the correct size and shape to meet your needs, as well as consider other features, such as fluted edges and whether your pie pan is dishwasher safe. 

Pie pans
A corrugated base on a pie pan can help the finished pie release more easily and may result in a more evenly cooked bottom crust due to better air circulation.

Key considerations

Material

It's important to choose a pie pan of the right material to get the best results. The vast majority of pie pans are made from either metal, glass, or ceramic.

Metal: These pie pans give you quick, even browning, but they can lead to overbaked crusts in custard-type pies that require a longer bake time for the filling to set. Aluminum and stainless steel options are highly affordable. Cast iron pie dishes are some of the most expensive available. 

Tempered glass: These pie pans are strong yet relatively affordable and tend to produce well-browned, crisp crusts. If you're looking for a versatile option that works well for all types of pies, glass is a good call.

Ceramic: These pie pans may look attractive, but often, ceramic doesn't have particularly great heat transfer properties, so you might be left with a pie that has a soggy bottom. Thinner ceramic pie plates tend to brown pie crusts better.

Expert Tip
If you prefer to stack your ceramic or glass pie pans in or on other items in a cabinet, place a paper towel or cloth on top and underneath your pie pan to reduce the odds of it getting scratched or chipped.
BestReviews Cooking and Baking Expert

Size

Most recipes call for 8- or 9-inch pie pans, so this is a good size to start with. If you attempt a recipe designed for an 8-inch pie pan in a 10-inch dish, you won't have enough pastry or filling to go around. That said, if you're baking for a large group, a larger 10- or 11-inch pie pan will make a bigger pie; you'll just need to scale up your recipe or search for pie recipes designed for larger pie pans. You can also find mini pie pans designed for small pies or even individual pies. The pans designed to bake individual pies usually come in packs of two to six. 

Shape

The vast majority of pie pans are round. However, you can also occasionally find other shapes. Square pie pans are sometimes used to bake rustic, often savory pies or pot pies with a top crust but not a bottom crust. You'll also sometimes find novelty-shaped pie pans, such as hearts meant for use on Valentine's Day or anniversaries (or when you just want to show your pies some love), or even pie pans shaped like the symbol for the number pi (?). The trouble with novelty pie pans is that the shape can limit the types of pies you can bake in them or make the pies difficult to turn out. 

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Expert Tip
When gifting a pie, nothing is sweeter than gifting it in a beautiful pie pan for the recipient to keep.
BestReviews Cooking and Baking Expert

Features

Fluting

If you see a pie pan with a wavy edge, that’s known as a fluted edge. A fluted edge can make pies look more decorative and fancy, but large flutes can lead to problems with the edge of the pie crust burning, so proceed with caution.

Color

You won't get color choices with average metal or glass pie pans, but if you choose a ceramic model, you'll be able to pick from a range of colors and sometimes even patterns, too. 

Broiler safe

Some pies, such as those with meringue toppings, need to be finished under the broiler for extra browning. If you're likely to need to broil your pies, choose a pie pan that's broiler safe.

Dishwasher safe

Picking a pie plate that's dishwasher safe will make it easier to clean up after you’re done. That said, washing up a single pie pan by hand doesn't take too much effort, so don't avoid an option you love just because it can't be washed in the dishwasher.

Expert Tip
Avoid using steel wool on glass or ceramic pie pans – they’ll scratch over time.
BestReviews Cooking and Baking Expert

Accessories

Pastry mat: A pastry mat not only helps keep your counters clean while rolling out pastry but also helps you roll pastry to the correct size for your pie dish.

Rolling pinYou can't make a quality pie from scratch without a rolling pin. It's essential for getting your pastry delectably thin.  

Baking beans: When making a pie crust that must be baked blind (prebaked or partially baked before adding the filling), you can fill the crust with baking beans to prevent the pastry from bubbling.

Cooking Torch: If you make pies with meringue toppings, you'll want a kitchen torch for toasting them.

Pastry scraper: When you work with pie dough, this simple yet versatile tool helps you divide, lift, and handle dough.

Pie pan prices

Inexpensive

The least expensive pie pans are aluminum, stainless steel, and basic glass, which cost between $5 and $15.

Mid-range

These options cost from $15 to $25 and include the best tempered-glass pie pans and some ceramic options. 

Expensive

High-end ceramic and heavy-duty cast iron pie pans are the most expensive, retailing for between $25 and $40

Tips

  • Consider how often you bake pies. We wouldn't recommend shelling out $30 on a high-end pie pan if you only bake pies a couple of times a year. Conversely, it's worth spending extra to get the best if you're an avid pie baker. 

  • Check the depth of your chosen pie pan. You can find extra-deep options if you like plenty of filling in your pies. 

  • Don't be afraid to take shortcuts. If you don't have the time or inclination to make your own pastry, it's fine to use store-bought pastry dough.

  • Decide if you need more than one pie pan. Some pie pans are sold in packs of two or more, which often works out to a lower price per pan than getting them separately. 

Content Image
Try using a preheated Baking Steel under your pie pan for extra browning properties.

FAQ

Q. How can I improve my pie-making skills?

A. Looking to up your pie game with your new pie pan? Thankfully, you can find all kinds of resources. First, you might want to consider getting a book of pie recipes. However, there are plenty of free recipes online, as well as many video tutorials. 

Q. Can I bake savory as well as sweet pies in a pie pan?

A. Yes, absolutely. Sweet pies are generally more popular than savory pies in the United States, but the cooking process is much the same for both (fillings aside). If a pie pan cooks sweet pies well, it will turn out quality savory pies, too. 

Q. Are disposable aluminum pie pans any good?

A. Disposable aluminum pie pans produce a better crust than you might think. We wouldn't recommend using them all the time because they aren't the most environmentally friendly option (though they can be recycled). However, they're useful for times when you need to bake a large number of pies or you want to gift someone a pie or take one to a potluck without worrying about retrieving your pan.  

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