Why did my pie deflate?

A pumpkin or custard pie filling separates from the crust due to shrinkage. This is a normal part of the cooling process. The fact is, all baked goods shrink as they cool due to the evaporation of moisture during baking.

What is the cause of shrinking dough?

When flour combines with liquid, proteins in it form elastic strands of gluten. The more you mix, the stronger and stretchier those strands become, causing tough, shrinking pastry.

How do you fix a shrinking pie crust?

How to Keep Your Pie Crust from Shrinking

1. 1 – Use the Right Pie Pan.
2. 2 – Knead the Dough Sparingly.
3. 3 – Use as Little Water as You Can.
4. 4 – Let It Rest.
5. 5 – Hold Down the Crust with Weights.
6. 6 – Make Sure Your Pie Crust Is Ice Cold Before Baking It.
7. 7 – Bake Your Pie with Two Pans.
8. 8 – Start at a High Temperature.

How do you keep pie crust from shrinking?

To avoid shrinking crusts, use a metal or unglazed ceramic pie plate (available from The Pampered Chef) and blind bake the dough at 350°F. If you only have glass pie plates, you can still blind bake the crust. Just be sure to trim the dough a tad beyond the rim of the pie pan, perhaps 1/8 inch.

How do you keep pie crust from slumping?

If you are baking the crust without filling (this is referred to as blind baking) a few things can help. Prick the crust all over with a fork. Cover your crust with parchment paper and then fill with pie weights or dried beans. Be sure to fill the lined pie crust to the rim of the pie plate so the sides don’t slump.

Why is it important to chill the pastry before baking?

It’s important to rest and chill your pastry dough for about half an hour before baking: this firms up the fat and lets the strands of gluten relax, both of which will improve the end result.

How do you fix shrinking dough?

This can be fixed in the following ways:

1. Proofing the dough for longer as gluten relaxes over time.
2. Bring dough to room temperature as gluten is tighter when cold.
3. Reduce the protein in your flour as this forms gluten.
4. Learn to stretch by hand for more control.
5. Weigh your ingredients so they are accurate.