How close to the top should I fill a pie to avoid overflow?

How close to the top should I fill a pie to avoid overflow? - Women in trendy blazers in studio

I'm planning a pot-pie recipe in a casserole dish and was wondering how high I should fill it without worrying about it overflowing during cooking. A traditional vented pie crust will completely cover the contents.

I will put a baking sheet underneath to catch overflow just in case, but I'd like to have some general guidelines.



Best Answer

A basic bechemel or broth based pot-pie filling will not expand significantly when being baked. It may bubble a little under the pastry from being simmered.

You would the casserole up to maybe 1/2 inch (1 cm) below the lip, and apply pastry on top of that.

Less is fine if you have less filling.




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How close to the top should I fill a pie to avoid overflow? - Back View of a Couple Sitting on Top of an RV



Quick Answer about "How close to the top should I fill a pie to avoid overflow?"

Aim for filling the pie pan to about ½-an-inch from the top. The filling will reduce as it cooks but shouldn't boil over. To be safe (and to avoid a huge mess), always place your pie on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

How do you stop a pie from leaking?

Piling the filling too high in the pie pan will cause it to overflow\u2014especially with extra juicy fruit fillings. Prevent any small spills (and make transferring the pie in and out of the oven easier) by placing the filled pie pan on a baking sheet.

Why is my pie overflowing?

Here are some tips to prevent runny apple pie.
  • Precook the filling. ...
  • Reduce the juice. ...
  • Experiment with different thickeners. ...
  • Vent the top crust. ...
  • Try a lattice or crumb top crust. ...
  • Bake thoroughly \u2014 and then some. ...
  • Let the pie cool completely \u2014 preferably overnight.




  • Fresh apple filling for any dessert!




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    Images: Monstera, Kampus Production, Nicole Michalou, Kampus Production