Checklist · 10 picks · 4 categories
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Pie has a scary rep, but most of the battle is gear: a pan that browns the bottom crust and a pin that rolls a clean circle.
America's Test Kitchen tried pie plates, and its co-winner is a nonstick metal pan, though glass and ceramic dishes made the recommended list too. ATK's best tapered rolling pin has the most usable flat surface for round crusts. Making a pumpkin, custard or cream pie? You'll blind bake the crust, and ATK's winning ceramic pie weights keep it from puffing or slumping. Finish with its winning pie server so the first slice actually comes out in one piece. Each card shows the drawback the testers called out. Start with the plate and pin, then add weights when you try a cream pie.
Who this is not for. Skip this if cookies and cakes are your thing; the Holiday Baking Checklist has the mixers, scoops, cooling racks and baking mats.
Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.
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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Oct 31, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA Pan 9-Inch Pie Pan | mid | $15-25 | crisp, evenly browned bottom crusts | 1 outlet |
| Norpro Stainless Steel Pie Pan, 9" | budget | under $15 | a cheap pan that still bakes a great crust | 1 outlet |
| Emile Henry 9 Inch Pie Dish | splurge | $50-100 | crisp crusts on top and bottom | 1 outlet |
Best pie dishmid pick · 9 in
Best for crisp, evenly browned bottom crusts
America's Test Kitchen's co-winning pie plate: a nonstick metal pan that performed and handled beautifully.
Heads up. Avoid using metal utensils to cut and serve your pie
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen co-winning pie plate.
$15-25
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budget pick · 9 in
Best for a cheap pan that still bakes a great crust
Highly recommended by America's Test Kitchen: it released every pie crust with ease.
Heads up. Its rim is a touch narrower than ATK's top choices
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen highly Recommended pie plate.
under $15
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splurge pick · 9.25 in
Best for crisp crusts on top and bottom
Recommended by America's Test Kitchen: a ceramic dish that delivers most pies with crisp crusts on both the top and bottom.
Heads up. The fluted rim limits crimping styles, and it's heavy and can crack or chip if dropped
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen recommended pie plate.
$50-100
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.K. Adams French Rolling Pin (Tapered) | mid | $25-50 | pie crusts and rounds | 1 outlet |
| J.K. Adams Plain Rolling Dowel Pin (19-inch) | budget | $15-25 | rolling big sheets of dough evenly | 1 outlet |
| Dexter-Russell Sani-Safe 6" x 3" Dough Cutter/Scraper | mid | $15-25 | lifting rolled dough and cleaning up flour | 1 outlet |
Top pickmid pick · Drawer
Best for pie crusts and rounds
America's Test Kitchen's best tapered pin, with the most usable flat surface, which makes round pie crusts easier.
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best tapered rolling pin.
$25-50
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budget pick · Drawer
Best for rolling big sheets of dough evenly
America's Test Kitchen's best dowel pin: a long 19-inch barrel for big batches of cut-out cookie dough, and dough didn't stick.
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best dowel rolling pin.
$15-25
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mid pick · 6 x 3 in
Best for lifting rolled dough and cleaning up flour
America's Test Kitchen's winning bench scraper, loved for a handle thick enough to give fingers a sturdy place to grip.
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen winning bench scraper.
$15-25
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Best pie weightsbudget pick · Per package (ATK used 4)
Best for blind baking crusts for custard and cream pies
America's Test Kitchen's winning pie weights: heavy enough to keep the bottom from bubbling or puffing and the fragile sides from slumping.
Heads up. You need four packages to fill a foil-lined pie shell
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen winning pie weights.
$15-25
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splurge pick · 2¾ cups per package
Best for tart bakers who blind bake a lot
Recommended by America's Test Kitchen: in a tart pan, the sides stood tall and the dough came out very crisp.
Heads up. In a pie plate, one package only reached two-thirds of the way up the sides, so you'd need two
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen recommended pie weights.
$100-150
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Best pie serverbudget pick · 4⅝ in blade
Best for nonstick pie pans
America's Test Kitchen's best nonstick-safe pie server: its blade mimics the shape of a nice slice of pie.
Heads up. The bendy blade sometimes bowed outward instead of breaking through thick crusts
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best Nonstick-Safe Option pie server.
under $15
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mid pick · 4½ in blade
Best for clean first slices
America's Test Kitchen's winning pie server, with sharp serrations on both sides of its blade.
Heads up. Its metal handle is a little slick
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen winning pie server.
$15-25
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
All three made America's Test Kitchen's list. Its co-winner is the nonstick metal USA Pan, and the Norpro stainless pan is highly recommended. ATK found glass browned evenly given enough time but crust sometimes stuck, and the Emile Henry ceramic dish gave crisp crusts but is heavy.
More than you think. America's Test Kitchen needed four packages (4 cups) of Mrs. Anderson's ceramic pie weights, about 2 pounds, to completely fill a foil-lined pie shell.
Totally. In America's Test Kitchen's tasting of ready-made crusts, Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crusts won for being flaky, buttery and user-friendly, with plenty of overhang.