PanSpanPie Crust Weights
Which pie crust weights will keep my blind-baked crust from bubbling or slumping without leaving me short on coverage?
For most home bakers, I’d choose the ROCKSHEAT 2.2-pound ceramic set: it gives you enough beads for a 9-inch pie and comes with a container for storage. If loose beads and cleanup are what you dislike most, the BakeBarn steel insert is the neater alternative for 7- to 10-inch pies. The lighter ceramic sets suit smaller shells or occasional baking, but I wouldn’t count on them to fill a deep 9-inch crust. Whichever you use, line the dough with parchment and spread the weights right up to the rim to support the sides.
#1 · ROCKSHEAT
ROCKSHEAT K Ceramic Pie Weights, Baking Beads Pie Crust Weights, Natural baking beans with Wheat Straw Container (2.2Lb | 1000g)
Choose this 2.2-pound ceramic set if you bake deep or 9-inch pies and want broad coverage rather than stretching a small pack. It includes a wheat-straw container, so the beads have a place to go between bakes.
#2 · BakeBarn
BakeBarn Pie Armor, Universal Fit Pie Weight for 7-10 inch Pies, Durable Alternative to Traditional Ceramic Pie Weights, 100% Stainless Steel 304
Take the BakeBarn insert if you want to avoid pouring, scooping, and storing loose beads. Its mesh design fits 7- to 10-inch pies, making it the tidy choice for regular blind baking within that range.
#3 · FurRain
FurRain Ceramic Pie Weights Reusable 10mm Baking Beans Pie Crust Weights Natural Ceramic Stoneware with Wheat Straw Container
This 1.2-pound ceramic set is a practical middle ground for routine pies and tarts when you want loose beads but don’t need the larger ROCKSHEAT quantity. It comes with a wheat-straw container; wash the beads with warm soapy water before their first use.
#4 · Sukh
Sukh 0.94LB Ceramic Pie Weights - Reusable Baking Beans for Blind Baking | Natural Stoneware Pie Crust Weights for Tarts, Quiche and Pastry Shells, Reusable Oven Safe Beans for Home Baking
Choose the Sukh set if you want reusable ceramic beads for smaller shells or occasional bakes and are comfortable with a lighter fill. Its 0.94-pound set is not my pick for a deep 9-inch pie.
#5 · Mrs. Anderson's Baking
Mrs. Anderson's Baking Ceramic Pie Crust Weights, 135 Count, Natural Stoneware, For Blind Baking Pie Crusts And Tart Shells With Even Baking Results
This 135-bead set is for small tarts and modest shells where a compact amount is enough. Its 8 ounces of weights make it the least suitable choice here for filling a deep pie crust to the rim.
How many pounds of pie weights do you need?
The useful test is whether the parchment-lined shell can be filled evenly to the rim, not just whether the bottom is covered. ROCKSHEAT recommends at least 1.1 pounds for a 7-inch pie and 2.2 pounds for a 9-inch pie, so that is the set I’d take for a deep 9-inch dish. The 1.2-pound FurRain set is a reasonable middle option for smaller or shallower shells. For a deep pie, don’t expect the 0.94-pound or 8-ounce sets to provide the same full support.
Are ceramic beads or a steel insert easier to use?
Ceramic beads are flexible: pour them over parchment, arrange them into the corners, and use the same set for different shell shapes. They do need careful handling when you lift them out, since loose beads can spill if the parchment folds or tips. The BakeBarn insert avoids that loose-bead routine and is the straightforward choice if you bake pies in its 7- to 10-inch range. I’d pick beads for flexibility and the insert for tidier handling.
How do you stop pie crust sides from slumping?
Line the shell with parchment and fill it evenly, pressing the weights out to the sides and up to the rim; a thin layer across only the bottom leaves the walls unsupported. Chill the shaped crust before baking, and avoid stretching the dough as you fit it into the pan, since stretched dough is more likely to pull back. For a deep shell, the heavier ROCKSHEAT set makes it easier to provide support throughout.
Which set is easiest to store and keep clean?
For loose ceramic beads, I’d choose ROCKSHEAT or FurRain because each includes a container, which helps keep the beads together between uses. Wash new FurRain beads with warm soapy water before using them, then let them dry fully before storage. If you want to skip loose beads altogether, BakeBarn is the simplest to put away after cleaning.
How they compare
Which one is yours
ROCKSHEAT: You bake deep or 9-inch pies and want a full 2.2-pound quantity of ceramic beads with a storage container.
BakeBarn: You want a reusable, less-mess alternative to loose beads for pies between 7 and 10 inches.
FurRain: You want a 1.2-pound ceramic set for regular, smaller or shallower pies, plus a container for storage.
Sukh: You bake smaller shells occasionally and want a compact 0.94-pound ceramic set.
Mrs. Anderson's Baking: You mainly blind bake small tart shells and want 135 individually arranged beads rather than a larger set.
You will also want
A cooling rack is handy once the crust or finished pie comes out of the oven.
SMARTAKE 200 Pcs White Parchment Paper Sheets, 12x16 Inches, Non-Stick | Pre-Cut Greaseproof Baking Paper, Pure Wood Pulp, Oven Safe up to 450°F, for Cooking, Grilling, Frying, Steaming, Wrapping
These pre-cut parchment sheets are convenient for lining a crust before blind baking.
Checkered Chef Cooling Racks for Cooking and Baking - Cooling Wire Rack | Stainless steel; no-warp grid design; multi-pack, fits quarter, jelly, and half sheet pans; oven safe and dishwasher safe
Set the baked shell or finished pie on a cooling rack so air can circulate underneath as it cools.
Questions buyers ask
Is 1 pound of pie weights enough?
It can suit a smaller or shallower shell, but it is not the amount I’d choose for a deep 9-inch pie. ROCKSHEAT recommends at least 2.2 pounds for a 9-inch pie, which is why its larger set is the safer pick for that job.
Should pie weights fill the crust to the rim?
Yes. The amount of weight needed to reach the rim varies with the pan’s size and depth.
How do I use pie weights when blind baking?
Fit parchment into the unbaked crust, then spread the weights across the bottom and into the sides. Bake the shell with the weights in place, then remove them carefully so the crust can finish baking as needed for your recipe.
Do ceramic pie weights need washing before use?
Wash the FurRain beads with warm soapy water before their first use, as directed for that set, and dry them before storing. In general, keep ceramic beads clean and fully dry so residue or moisture does not get onto your next crust.
Which pie weights make a useful gift for a home baker?
Match the gift to how they bake: choose ROCKSHEAT for someone who makes full-size pies, or BakeBarn if they would rather avoid handling loose beads.
What helps keep pie weights from spilling during cleanup?
Pour loose beads out slowly while holding the parchment securely, and let them cool before handling.