Pumpkin pie is one of the most popular desserts for Thanksgiving dinner. However, many people have trouble telling if their pumpkin pies are done or not. If your crust isn’t brown and the filling is still runny, then it’s not quite ready yet. In this article, we’re going to give you 5 quick tips on how to tell if pumpkin pie is done. Let’s get started!
1. The knife test
This is the good old common test everybody tries when preparing that delicious pumpkin pie. Insert a knife near the center of the pie. If it comes out clean, then your pie is cooked through! Simple, right?
The only disadvantage of this test is that the knife can break through to the other side of your pie and leave some filling behind. It will also leave a crack where it was inserted. If you don’t care about looks, then it’s fine as long as you don’t repeat this over and over. However, there are other solutions if you don’t want this to happen.
2. The toothpick test
How do you know when pumpkin pie is done using the toothpick test. Take a clean toothpick and insert it into your pie near the center of the filling. If there’s any pumpkin pie filling on the toothpick when you pull it out, then your pie isn’t done yet!
You can also try inserting two or three toothpicks in different spots around your pie to see which side one comes up cleaner without much filling on them. For example, put one close to where the crust meets the filling, one in the middle of the pie, and one near the edge. If any toothpick has little or no pumpkin on it, then your pie is not ready yet! And nobody will notice the small holes created by the toothpicks.
3. The thermometer test
If you’re not a fan of the knife test or toothpick tests to tell when pumpkin pie is done, then this is for you. Place an instant thermometer into your pie and wait about ten seconds until it’s done reading. The temperature should be at least 175-180 degrees Fahrenheit (82 degrees Celsius) at its coolest point.
4. The jiggle test
This one is really simple as well! Carefully press your finger against the center of the pie. If it wobbles, then that means your pumpkin pie is not done yet! Gently shake the pie and it jiggles slightly only the center, then it’s done.
This test is great if you want to avoid any cracks in your delicious pumpkin pie.
5. The filling is darker and the crust is brown test
This is the last test to how to tell when pumpkin pie is done and it’s a bit more tricky. However, if you’re not sure about your other tests or don’t have an instant thermometer at hand, then this one will do just fine! If the filling has become darker (but still wet) and crust browns around the edges but not in the center, then you can be confident that your pie is done cooking!
How long do you normally bake the pie?
This all depends on the size of your pie. If it’s a small pie, then you should bake it for about 20-25 minutes in an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176 degrees Celsius). For larger pies, 25-35 minutes would be best at 425°F (218°C) and if you’re using a convection oven set around 375 °F(191°C), 30-40 minutes is what you need. Some recipes require 60-70 minutes in the oven.
The most important thing to remember when baking pumpkin pie is that every individual recipe will have its own cooking instructions! So make sure not to forget that before making one!
Also, don’t forget about cooling the pie! If you cut into it too early, the filling may be very runny and not set. This will cause your crust to fall apart when eaten because of how liquidy the filling is. So don’t forget this step or else all that work might go down the drain!
Cool it in a rack on the counter at room temperature. This process can take up to 1-2 hours, depending on the size of your pie. Now you know how to tell if pumpkin pie is done!
Wrap up
No matter which of these methods work for you best- we hope they helped with making that delicious pumpkin pie!! All five ways are great and there are no wrong answers here. You’ll find what works for you eventually as long as you keep trying new things out until something sticks! Happy baking everyone 🙂