What is a Pie Bird Used for?

If you are asking your self the question ‘What is a pie bird used for‘ then this article is for you.

A pie bird is a gadget, usually made of ceramic and designed like a bird, that aids in venting steam from your double-crusted or richly filled pie. When deployed correctly the pie bird successfully reduces boil overs from rich ingredients and helps you reach a good, crisp crust. Various other names for them include pie chimneys, pie vents, pie whistles, and even pie funnels. Whether bird-shaped or not, they are usually tall, slender and always hollow (the steam rushes up and out via the hollow core). Ceramic models are classic, although they come in silicone now, too.

How to Use af Pie Bird

Now you have to figure out how to use a pie bird. We got you covered: Line the bottom crust of the pie dish, set the pie bird in the center, and scrape your filling into the crust and around the pie bird. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the top crust, make a small slit in the center, and gently arrange it on top of the filling. Pick up the crust with your fingers and palms, drape it over a rolling pin and use the pin to help transfer the crust, or roll it up with a rolling pin and unroll on top — whatever method works best for you. Allow the pie bird to fit tightly through the slit. (We believe the ceramics are superior, especially at this stage.) Bake with the bird in place, crimping the crust edges as desired. After you’ve sliced your first slice of pie, remove the bird.

 

A Very short history of the Pie Birds

Pie birds — or pie funnels, pie chimneys, pie vents, or pie whistles, as they’re frequently called — were first employed in Europe some hundred years ago. They picked up speed in popularity around the mid- to late-19th century. But it wasn’t until the 1940s, when pie birds became widely manufactured and treasured as much for a collector’s piece as a functional instrument, that the birds were utilized more universally. Today, though, they remain a touch obscure and typically aren’t known outside the dedicated baking bunch of happy amateur bakers. You know – like you an me.

These charming critters have been around for hundreds of years, but were more popular in the 1940s as manufacturers started making them in varied forms and colors. We’ve allowed them to fade into oblivion over the years.

But if you’re an obsessive pie baker, it’s a trend worth bringing back. This tiny (and really lovely) pie companion can help you produce an enviable outer shell, a crispy crust, and a bottom that isn’t soggy. You can buy them for a low price, have fun collecting them, and they actually work as intended.

Le Creuset Stoneware Pie Bird

A good example of a modern an simple stone ware pie bird is the pie bird model from Le Cruset, shown below

The pie bird may be old-fashioned, but this time-honored baker’s equipment has cranked out innumerable delectable pies over the course of decades. As the pie cooks, steam escapes from the hollow bird, keeping the filling from boiling over. Arches at the bottom reroute water away from the crust, keeping it dry. The top crust will be held in place, and your oven will be clear of spills.

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