6 Best Pie Pans of 2023, According to Testing
Our culinary pros say these dishes are great for pie, quiche and more.
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We updated this story in August 2022 to update our top picks based on our most recent round of testing from the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab. We also added a buyer's guide to pie pans and more information about our testing process.
Though you may not be turning out delicious homemade pies on a regular basis, a pie pan is always a helpful addition to your arsenal of baking pans, especially if you tend to host dinner parties or host holidays like Thanksgiving.
Pies are particularly finicky, though, and the right pie dish can make a world of difference in both end result and servability. And while it's true that you can bake an evenly cooked, well-browned pie in just about any type of pie pan — glass, nonstick metal or ceramic — there are many variations in each that can greatly affect the final product.
When testing pie pans in the Good Housekeeping Institute, we baked 15 apple pies in as many different vessels, assessing overall performance, the color of browning on the top and bottom and how evenly the filling cooked. Winning pies were firm and stable with a beautiful golden hue and a flaky crust. We also took notes on ease of use: Did the pie plate have easy-grip handles? How simple was the dish to clean? Could you pop it in the dishwasher?
Our top picks:
Below, you'll find the full list of pie pans hand-selected by the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab. You can also read more about the different materials pie plates come in, plus what to look for when shopping. Here are the best pie pans you can buy, according to testing and brands we trust.
Williams-Sonoma Goldtouch Pro Nonstick Pie Dish
Pros
- Nonstick
- Cooks evenly
Cons
- Scratches easily
This isn't just a sleek and sophisticated-looking pie plate. The Goldtouch Pro is incredibly lightweight, making it exceptionally easy to work with — even when filled to the brim with the goods.
In tests, our kitchen pros found the affordable set of two pie dishes delivered superior results, yielding an apple pie with even coloring throughout and a beautiful golden bottom. Once the pie cooled down, it released slices cleanly, thanks to the nonstick coating.
If there's any downside, though, it's that the same coating — though durable enough to be dishwasher safe — scratched easily when cutting and serving. We recommend using silicone utensils instead of a standard knife when possible.
| Weight | 1 pound |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 9 x 9 x 1.5 inches |
| Material | Aluminized steel |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
Pros
- Easy to store
- Clear sides help monitor progress
Cons
- Doesn't have handles
This pie dish from Pyrex is not only oven-safe but also microwave-, dishwasher- and freezer-safe, making it exceptionally versatile for prepping and cooking pies, storing leftover bits or even using it as a baking dish for something else altogether.
Overall, it's no-frills, but our testers gravitated towards it nonetheless, calling it "a classic" — and for good reason. The USA-made tempered glass pie pan was the best glass pan we tested, producing a relatively well-browned pie without any shrinkage.
Testers also liked how easy it was to monitor the progress on their pie, thanks to the clear sides all around. It's also easy to store, but take note: the dish doesn't have any handles, which can make it a little tricky to grab, especially with big oven mitts on.
| Weight | 1.81 pounds |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 10 x 10 x 1.5 inches |
| Material | Glass |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
Lodge 9-Inch Seasoned Cast Iron Pie Pan
Pros
- Has large handles
- Incredibly durable
Cons
- Very heavy
A cast-iron pan was a dark horse, but our tester was "very surprised by cast iron and how it performed," since the vast majority of people turn to glass, ceramic and metal pie pans for their baking needs.
Though undeniably heavy and somewhat hard to care for (it requires all the normal care of regular cast iron — both seasoning after heavy use and hand washing), this pie dish cooked evenly and produced a dessert with a lovely golden brown top and bottom.
And though undeniably heavy — it's not ideal for anyone with strength or mobility challenges — it's also an incredibly durable pick and one that would last you for years and years to come.
Also nice: The heavy-duty pie pan has fluted sides to guide you as you shape crust and large handles that make it a little easier to carry despite its weight.
| Weight | 3.45 pounds |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 12.44 x 10 x 1.69 inches |
| Material | Cast iron |
| Dishwasher safe | No |
Pros
- Stylish
- Microwave-, freezer- and dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Doesn't have handles
Though among the most expensive pie pans we tested, this ceramic option from Great Jones (available in three fun colors) is incredibly stylish with a retro appeal that looks great on any table. Our test kitchen pro was impressed by how fun both the design and color options are.
It's more than pretty to look at, though. In tests, this pie plate performed better than any other ceramic option we tested. The microwave-, freezer- and dishwasher-safe baking dish has fluted edges to help guide you as your crimp the crust. And, during cooking, the pie dish produced an apple pie with a nicely-browned bottom with even golden color across the whole thing. (Other ceramic options produced some burnt spots.)
Just note that there are no handles — an important attribute for some — since it can make the pan harder to grasp, especially with bulky oven mitts on.
| Weight | 2 pounds |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 10 x 10 x 2 inches |
| Material | Ceramic |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
Nordic Ware Naturals High Dome Covered Pie Pan
Pros
- Great for storage
- Lightweight
Cons
- Not dishwasher-safe
Our testers had mixed feelings about this lightweight pan's tall walls. On one hand, they helped prevent the crust from burning — instead, the result was a very evenly golden crust from edge to edge. But on the other hand, the higher sides made it a bit more difficult to serve a clean piece of pie.
Perhaps the most enticing feature of this particular pie dish is the included domed lid that allows you to better preserve and store any leftovers for future enjoyment (just let it fully cool first). It's a great portability feature too, and the high dome leaves plenty of room for meringue or whipped cream-topped pies.
It's also worth noting: You'll have to handwash this metal pie dish — the manufacturer says neither the pan itself nor the lid is dishwasher-safe.
| Weight | Not listed |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 10 x 10 x 1.75 inches |
| Material | Rust-proof aluminum |
| Dishwasher safe | No |
Pros
- Comes in a variety of colors
- Has a 10-year warranty
Cons
- Expensive
It may be expensive (one of the two priciest picks on our list), but our test kitchen pros were impressed by the quality of this pie pan, noting it's even more beautiful in real life. The ceramic is high quality, the fluted lines are dramatic and sleek and it comes in a variety of colors so you can choose the one that best matches your kitchen.
As far as stoneware goes, this dish performed better than the majority of others we tested (including the ever-popular Le Creuset pie pan). Although slightly less golden all around, the apple pie it produced had fewer burned spots, yielding a more consistent product.
Overall, our testers say this pie plate is worth a hard look, especially considering how durable it is. Handcrafted in France, it's microwavable, oven-, freezer-, broiler- and dishwasher-safe. Plus, the exterior is coated in a hand-applied glaze that's resistant to scratches, chips and cracks.
As a fun option, this hardworking pan also comes in a set of two miniature pie pans.
| Weight | 2.4 pounds |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 10.4 x 10.4 x 2.4 inches |
| Material | Ceramic |
| Dishwasher safe | No |
How we test pie pans
When we tested pie pans in the Lab, we put 15 of the most promising to the test. We tested pie pans of all different materials, including glass, metal and ceramic. More were standard 9- or 9.5-inch pans.
To assess the overall functionality of each pie pan, we baked 15 apple pies over the course of more than 10 hours, using 15 packs of Pillsbury pie dough and 30 cans of Duncan Hines apple pie filling. After each pie cooled for two hours, our test kitchen pros examined the crust on top, then cut into the pie to examine the bottom crust. Normally, if the edges of our pie pans started to brown quicker than the center was cooking, we'd loosely cover it with foil to prevent burning, but we did not do so for this test so we could get a better read on how the pies browned without intervention.
What to consider when shopping for pie pans
✔️ Diameter: Though pie plates come in all different sizes, the most common size – and what you'll find most recipes call for — is 9 to 10 inches in diameter. Our tests confirmed why this is the most desirable size. Nine-inch pie plates performed the best using pre-made pie dough. Anything larger sunk in the middle and didn’t cook evenly from center to outer edge.
✔️ Depth: This measurement is equally as important as diameter since it greatly affects capacity. For standard pies, look for a depth of about 1.25 to 1.5 inches. If you're whipping up a deep-dish pie, look for a pie dish with a depth closer to 2 inches.
✔️ Material: When it comes to pie pans, the most common materials are glass, ceramic and metal. And while all can produce evenly-baked pies with a nice, flaky crust, there are undoubtedly pluses and minuses to each. In tests, some glass pie pans performed well; others produced pale crusts with soggy bottoms. The ceramic pie pans we tested were generally neither here nor there — not outstanding, but not disappointing — but they are very attractive, which is important for serving purposes. Finally, metal, though heavy, cooked very evenly and browned well.
✔️ Rim and handles: Some pie dishes are rimmed; others aren’t. Overall, our test kitchen experts liked the maneuverability of rimmed pie plates — especially those with handles. This extra material helped prevent the exterior of the crust from burning. They did, however, note that these pie pans didn't perform as well overall — many of these baking dishes produced undercooked pies with shrinkage.
What type of pan is best for pies — glass, metal or ceramic?
Overall, our test kitchen pros don't prefer one material over another. Glass, metal and ceramic pie pans can all produce evenly-cooked pies with perfectly browned, flaky crust. That said, there are some pros and cons to each type.
- Glass: Though most glass pie pans are sleek and have clear sides that make it easy to monitor the progress of your pie from multiple angles, our test kitchen pros found that they weren't reliable across products. Some performed well, but others failed to produce well-browned crust and instead yielded pale crusts with soggy bottoms.
- Metal: Our testers were surprised by how well metal pie dishes performed, particularly cast iron ones, which created very evenly cooked pies that were golden brown on top. That said, these pie pans are much heavier than others, plus the metal nonstick options tend to scratch if you cut and serve pie straight from the pan, as many do.
- Ceramic: Most of the ceramic pie pans we tested fell somewhere in the middle of the pack, scoring just slightly lower in both performance and ease of use than our top picks. Still, our testers note that ceramic pie pans tend to be attractive enough to serve from.
Can a cake tin be used for pie?
In a pinch, you can certainly use a cake tin in place of a pie dish. Just be sure to note the shape and overall size. Though many cake pans are very similar to pie pans, some have a slightly larger depth and not all have sloped sides, which can make serving a bit more challenging.
Why trust Good Housekeeping
Lab testing for this roundup was conducted by Eva Bleyer, Home & Kitchen Appliances Reviews Analyst for the Good Housekeeping Institute. In addition to pie pans, Eva regularly tests kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear. She graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Science in Food Studies, Nutrition and Public Health and is a trained chef from the Natural Gourmet Institute. She has also worked as a personal chef and food stylist for Food Network.
Brigitt Earley is a freelance writer and editor with nearly 15 years of experience testing and writing about consumer products, including pie pans and other kitchen accessories and gadgets. She holds a degree in Professional Culinary Arts from the French Culinary Institute (now Institute of Culinary Education).
Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.
Eva (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she tests kitchen gear, home appliances and culinary innovations. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor of science in food studies, nutrition and public health and is a trained chef through the Natural Gourmet Institute. Eva has more than 10 years of experience in the food industry, working as a food stylist, personal chef and marketing manager.
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