Is there a way to prevent my Fruit Pie from getting runny?
Is there a way to firm up the consistency of a fresh fruit pie (like peach or apple) - sometimes it gets too "runny"?
Best Answer
Yes. Presumably you're doing the firming up during the cooking, and not afterwards?
- Drain off liquid / condense any liquid. Heat fruit before placing in pie to drive off moisture
- Use a touch of cream
- Use binder / starch
- Use gelatin in the fruit mixture
- tapioca (credit to justkt for this one)
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Quick Answer about "Is there a way to prevent my Fruit Pie from getting runny?"
A thickener prevents the filling from being too watery by adding a substance that will absorb some of the liquid that seeps out of the fruit. A small amount of thickener should not alter the flavor of your pie. Use cornstarch as a thickener.How do you keep fruit pies from being runny?
Here are some tips to prevent runny apple pie.What will thicken a fruit pie?
When thickening a fruit pie filling, there are several options to consider. Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency.Why did my pie turn out runny?
Pay attention to bake times: one reason you'll often end up with a runny fruit pie is simply that it hasn't been baked long enough. Any thickener you use needs a little time to set up, and people often see their crust turning light brown and think the pie is done when it's really not. 3.How do you keep a peach pie from being runny?
Here are a couple simple tricks from Chef John to help you bake a firm, moist-but-not-watery peach pie.More answers regarding is there a way to prevent my Fruit Pie from getting runny?
Answer 2
Apples have pectin in them, which should naturally help keep them from being runny. In fact, I've seen a blueberry pie recipe from America's Test Kitchen/Cook's Illustrated that used grated apples and instant tapioca in combination as the thickener. The reason it didn't use all tapioca was that too much tapioca can lead to a gummy, over-firm gelatin like consistency.
In almost all the fruit pies I make, the key to perfect texture is somewhere between 2 and 3 tablespoons of instant tapioca. Why tapioca? Unlike flour or cornstarch it does not dull the flavor of the fruit.
In the case of some recipes (blueberry comes to mind), I also cook down some of the fruit to make a syrup for binding the fruit together. I do not do this with peach unless the peaches have been sitting in their juices for a while. I do not do this with apple, raspberry, or strawberry rhubarb either.
So try tapioca, but over 2-3 tablespoons (depending on fruit-type), if you find you are dealing with too much structure, switch to a mix with grated apple or straight up pectin.
Answer 3
This gadget won't make the pie itself less runny, but it will help keep your pie from running.
Answer 4
When I make an apple pie I slice the apples and stir in a small amount of orange juice to reduce air browning and half the amount of sugar called for by the recipe (the other half is added when the pie is assembled). Then I place the apple mixture in a colander over a bowl. Since sugar is hygroscopic there will be quite a bit of liquid in the bowl after 15 or 20 minutes. I reduce this by half in a small pan over low heat. Then I assemble the pie. This keeps the pie from being too wet and reduces the chances of having a big gap between the filling and the top crust.
Answer 5
This question here: what is the purpose of lemon/acid in fruit maceration for pie baking? is perhaps the answer to this question.
The low tech answer is you macerate the fruit to draw the excess liquid from the fruit so your pie doesn't get runny.
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