Metal Pie Plate Primer

• Light-colored pie plates are the best choice for items that require an overall, consistent browning like pies. While dark-colored metals will typically over-brown many cakes, pies and breads, light colored metals are a first choice for many baking endeavors. Aluminum pans are ideal for conducting heat the best, but acidic fillings in fruit pies especially can react poorly with the metal, leaving a bad taste in your pie. Stainless steel pans are generally not recommended, while steel pie plates also work well to evenly brown crusts.

Glass Pie Plate Basics

• Glass is an ideal solution for baking pies and should be used for this purpose when available. Its excellent heat conducting capabilities make it easy to achieve a perfectly browned crust and, because the pan is clear, you are able to visually inspect the pie's crust while cooking to make adjustments to cooking time and temperature as needed. Glass is an efficient conductor of heat and in some cases, too efficient. Other baked items containing a lot of sugar will often over-brown before being cooked through because of it, making glass a poor choice for cakes, cookies, muffins and tarts.

Downsides to Each

• Many metal pans, such as the disposable types, can be flimsy and produce uneven heating and browning in your crust. If you do use these for pie making, be sure to place a baking tray underneath the pie before putting it in the oven to prevent buckling and spilling under the weight of the pie. Glass on the other hand, is prone to breakage. Careful handling is important as these pie plates can easily shatter, ruining a perfectly good pie in seconds.

Substituting Glass and Metal Pie Plates

• In a pinch, you can substitute metal for glass and vice versa. When using glass in a recipe calling for a metal pie plate, decrease the oven temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure that the item is done cooking before its exterior is overly browned. When using metal instead of glass, there is no hard rule regarding adjustments in cooking time and temperature. Watch the pie as it begins to brown and make adjustments as needed to prevent burning and over-browning on its edges.