pie crust

food

Also known as: piecrust

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Last updated

July 2, 2026

Quick Summary

A pie crust is the pastry shell of a pie. It is typically made from a simple mixture of flour, water, shortening, and salt, with shortening making up about 30 to 40 percent of the dough. The amount of water is kept low, and mixing is brief to prevent elasticity, which can cause shrinkage and toughness during baking.12

For a flaky crust, the fat should remain in small particles rather than being completely dispersed. Lard is often preferred in home baking for its flakiness and flavor, while oils are less suitable because they are not solid at mixing temperatures. Some recipes may include small amounts of baking powder or soda for tenderness, though this can reduce flakiness and allow the filling to soak into the crust more quickly. Milk or sugar can be added to improve browning and flavor.2

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baking
Unleavened products: pie crusts
Pie crusts are the major volume item of unleavened products prepared by modern bakeries. Small amounts of baking powder or soda are sometimes added to pie-crust doughs, mostly in domestic cookery. This addition, although increasing tenderness, tends to eliminate the desirable flakiness and…
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Pie crusts are the major volume item of unleavened products prepared by modern bakeries. Small amounts of baking powder or soda are sometimes added to pie-crust doughs, mostly in domestic cookery. This addition, although increasing tenderness, tends to eliminate the desirable flakiness and…
Read More

pie
…crust may be added; the pie is baked until the crust is crisp and the filling is cooked through. Pies have been popular in the United States since colonial times, so much so that apple pie has become symbolic of traditional American home cooking. The typical American pie is round,…
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…crust may be added; the pie is baked until the crust is crisp and the filling is cooked through. Pies have been popular in the United States since colonial times, so much so that apple pie has become symbolic of traditional American home cooking. The typical American pie is round,…
Read More

shortening
…cakes containing 10–20 percent, and piecrusts containing over 30 percent. Increasing shortening proportions increases tenderness, but very high proportions may cause cakes to fall.
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…cakes containing 10–20 percent, and piecrusts containing over 30 percent. Increasing shortening proportions increases tenderness, but very high proportions may cause cakes to fall.
Read More