What is a pie bird? Well, you may have seen one at your grandparents’ or at an old relative’s house, probably not knowing what it was. A pie bird is a little keepsake, a figurine with the shape and colors of a bird, that has a real purpose: venting steam from pies while being baked.
Usually made of ceramic, pie birds are hollow and work releasing the steam from the pies, just like a chimney, so the filling does not bubble and damage the crust. It really protects the appearance of the crust and of the pie in general. For anyone wondering what is a pie bird, the short answer is that it is both decorative and practical, helping release steam while keeping the top crust in better shape.
Is a pie bird necessary? Well, no, it isn’t. Is it fun and cute? Absolutely! Some people collect them and have really big collections of all sorts of pie birds, resembling different kinds of birds.
Now you know what is a pie bird, let’s learn how to use it.
How to use a pie bird
If you are going to use a pie bird, you just can’t put it in the pie after baking –that would make it useless-. Once you see how to use a pie bird properly, you’ll never forget:
When the pie is ready to go in the oven, use a spoon to scoop the filling in the center of the pie. Then, place the pie bird, making a hole in the top crust and , leaving some space between the bottom of the pie and the lower part of the pie bird.
How does a pie bird work?, once the pie is baking, the steam is released through the bird’s beak. Some birds may even whistle when venting the steam, how cute is that?!
Be careful because you shouldn’t pull the pie bird from the pie after baking. If you do so, you may break the crust or pull the filling and, therefore, ruin the looks of the pie. So leave it where it is and cut slices around it.
Recipes to use your pie bird in
These delicious recipes with Spanish extra virgin olive oil are the perfect excuse to use your pie bird, you will love them!
- Pie crust recipe: first, the basics. Learn how to make a crunchy and golden pie crust and the secret for a perfect pie!
- Meat pie with olive oil from Spain: the classic meat pie with minced beef. Tasty, comforting and healthy, a perfect dish for Winter.
- Turkey pie: a must in every Christmas gathering that you can make all year. Everybody loves this pie because of its soft taste and creaminess. Amazing
- Apple crumble pie: a perfect dessert with apple and oatmeal. It is not mandatory to use a pie bird in this one, but if you do, it will look even better because the crust will be flatter.
When should you use a Pie Bird?
If you are baking without a pie bird, the steam inside the pie can cause the crust to crack. To avoid this, place the pie bird in the center of the pie before baking. This allows the steam to escape through the bird’s steak, preventing any issues with you pie’s appearance and texture. This is one of the main reasons the pie bird has remained such a useful baking tool over time. When the pie is done baking, you can safely cut slice around the bird without disturbing the pie’s structure.
What to do if you don’t have a pie bird
In case you don’t have a pie bird, you can use other stuff to make the same function. As long as it’s like a tube and it is heat resistant, it’ll work: a cinnamon stick, a piece of cardboard straw… you name it! You can also buy a pie crust vent, that has exactly the same pie bird purpose, but obviously not that pretty.
We hope this article has helped you understand what is a pie bird, how to use pie bird and also inspired you to try new healthy recipes with EVOO from Spain!
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