Skip to Content

5 Simple Pie Weight Substitutes to Try at Home

By: Author Andrew Gray

Posted on Last updated:

0 Comments

Pie weights? We’ve all been there, ready to bake a pie crust, only to realize we forgot to buy them. One time, we thought a bag of dried beans would last forever, but someone cooked them. Why does that always happen?

The good news? You don’t need fancy tools to keep your crust from puffing up. There are plenty of simple swaps you’ve probably got at home right now. We’ve tested these out ourselves, and they work just as well—some even better.

From pantry basics to household items, we’ve rounded up some easy options that are just as effective.

5 Quick Substitutes for Pie Weight

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1 – Dried Beans

Dried beans are the MVP of pie weights. They’re cheap, reusable, and just heavy enough to keep crusts in check. We’ve used them plenty of times, and they never fail, unless we’ve already cooked the last batch.

You’ll want enough beans to fill the base evenly, around 1-2 cups for most pies. Toss them on parchment or foil to keep them clean. They press the dough down perfectly while baking and are easy to scoop out when you’re done.

They might not work for eating afterward, but they’ll last forever if you stash them away for your next pie.

2 – Uncooked Rice

Uncooked rice is that backup plan we always forget we have. It’s small, dense, and fills a pie crust perfectly for blind baking. We’ve grabbed rice from the pantry so many times when we couldn’t find anything else.

Use about 1-2 cups of rice to cover the base evenly. Line the crust with parchment or foil first to keep things tidy. It spreads out easily, presses everything down nicely, and keeps the crust from puffing up.

The rice isn’t great to eat later, but you can store it for future pies. It’s a dependable, affordable substitute that always gets the job done.

3 – Marbles

Marbles might seem like a weird choice, but hear us out. They’re heavy, round, and do a great job pressing crusts down evenly. We’ve used them more than once when other options were nowhere in sight.

You’ll need enough marbles to fill the bottom of your crust, about 1-2 cups usually does it. Always lay down parchment or foil first to avoid a mess. They hold heat well, so they help the crust bake evenly while keeping it flat.

The best part? They’re reusable, and you’ll never have to wonder if someone cooked them like the dried beans.

4 – Ceramic Baking Beads

Ceramic baking beads were made to handle pie crusts like pros. They’re heavy enough to keep the crust flat and stop bubbling. We’ve found that about 1-1.5 cups usually does the trick for most pies.

Always use parchment or foil underneath to make cleanup easy. They spread the heat evenly, so the crust comes out golden without any weird puff spots.

Unlike rice or beans, ceramic beads hang around for years. Cool them down after baking, store them, and they’ll be ready when you are. Plus, there’s no guessing if someone might try to cook them later.

5 – Another Pie Pan

Last, but not least, one of our favorite options. Another pie pan is perfect for keeping your crust flat and evenly baked. If you have a matching pair, use one to hold the other down.

You’ll need parchment or foil between them to keep things neat. The extra weight from another pie pan will help prevent air pockets in the dough while it bakes.

This is probably the easiest option on our list because most people already have multiple pie pans at home. Plus, you can always make two pies at once! Win-win.

Table of Contents

→ Index