The Expensive Baking Tool You Can Buy Secondhand - Tasting Table

"When it comes to delicious homemade pie, a crispy, golden-brown crust is essential. And for some, like key lime or coconut cream, your crust needs to be blind baked, or pre-cooked by itself before any fillings are added. That's where pie weights, those tiny, heatproof balls that keep your crust from puffing up, come into play. But here's a little secret from some thrifty bakers (aka, us here at Tasting Table): To help save your hard-earned money, try to skip buying pie weights new from the store."

"According to the list's writer, pie weights can cost around $20 per pack, and if you're baking pies in high volume, say, for Thanksgiving, buying multiple weights will add up fast. And unlike most kitchen tools from the thrift store, you don't need to worry about the weights being dirty, or contaminated with bacteria. That's because the pie weights never make direct contact with the pie crust, as there's usually a layer of parchment paper or aluminum foil separating the ceramic or stainless steel balls from the crust."

Pie weights are small, heatproof balls used to keep pie crusts from puffing during blind baking. Buying used pie weights can save money because new packs can cost around $20 and multiple packs add up when baking in volume. Secondhand pie weights rarely pose contamination risks since they sit atop parchment paper or foil, preventing direct contact with crusts. These weights are typically durable and infrequently used, so lightly used sets often appear on the secondhand market. Common sources include thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace, and eBay. Inspect used weights for rust, grime, residues, and ensure all pieces are intact.

Read at Tasting Table