cooking pastry for bottom of pie using cold filling

Sometimes my meat pies do not cook properly on the bottom. I usually put the filling in cold rather than hot. Should I cook the bottom pastry blind before adding filling and top.

pastry

Best Answer

There are two techniques (that I know of) that will help you. I often use both...

A thin layer of fat on the inside (the "top of the bottom") will prevent the water from the filling from soaking into the crust and allow the crust to 'cook through'. I use butter but shortening, lard or cooking oil will do.
Par baking with pie weights will allow the crust to begin cook before the filling is added.

I don't know if this helps with 'cooking properly' or not, but I use vodka to replace half of the water to mix the dough. This inhibits the production of gluten and makes a 'flakier' crust. (based on a tip from Alton Brown specifically for apple pie, but it works all around...)

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Should pie filling be hot or cold before baking?

Let any fillings cool completely before adding them to the pastry case. To prevent a wet filling from making the pastry base soggy, preheat a baking tray and cook the pie on that \u2013 the extra heat will set the pastry faster.

Do you cook pastry before adding meat filling?

To prevent them becoming soggy, shortcrust pastry cases need to be partially cooked before adding moist fillings. This process, known as blind baking, which seals the surface and results in a crisp pastry case.

Do you cook the pastry on the bottom of a pie first?

But the one surefire way to make absolutely certain your pie's crust will be golden brown, crisp, and delicious \u2014 just as appealing as its filling \u2014 is to prebake it. That's right: bake the bottom crust first, before adding the filling.

Should you let pie filling cool before baking?

Allow your pie to cool for about an hour. The filling will set, and it will be cool enough to eat, yet still a little warm. Just don't leave it on a windowsill because, you know, someone will steal it.

Steak Pies (the ultimate meat pie)

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