How to cook two pies at once in your oven (pro baking tips)

Baking two pies at once is a real time-saver, especially during the holidays or family gatherings. But achieving perfectly baked pies together in one oven requires a few strategic adjustments.  Here’s everything you need to know about how to cook two pies at once.

Understanding Your Oven Space

By understanding your oven’s space and layout, you can maximize its potential and achieve consistent, evenly baked pies. Here’s how to set up your oven for optimal results:

Ideal Oven Rack Positioning for Baking Pies

For even baking, place one pie on the lower-middle rack and the other on the upper-middle rack. This allows air to circulate between the pies, promoting even heating. Avoid placing pies directly above one another, as this can cause the bottom pie to bake slower while the top one browns too quickly. If you have a convection setting, using it can also help distribute heat more evenly.

Measuring Your Oven Space Effectively

Before baking, measure your oven’s interior to ensure your pie dishes fit comfortably with space around them for airflow. Most standard ovens can fit two 9-inch pie pans side by side on a single rack, but if yours is smaller, try positioning one pie on each rack. Make sure to leave at least 1–2 inches of space between the pies and the oven walls for proper circulation.

Ovens Best Suited for Baking Multiple Pies

While a standard oven can handle two pies, certain ovens are especially well-suited for multi-item baking. Convection ovens circulate hot air continuously, helping both pies bake at the same rate. Double ovens also offer flexibility, letting you set different temperatures if one pie requires a higher temperature or if you’re baking pies of different types. If you frequently bake multiple items, these options may be worth considering.

Choosing the Right Pies

Choosing compatible pies helps ensure both bake evenly, taste great, and turn out perfectly. Here’s what to consider:

Types of Pies That Can Be Baked Together

For the best results, bake pies with similar textures and flavors. Fruit pies, like apple and cherry, typically bake well together since they require similar temperatures and won’t affect each other’s flavors. Cream or custard pies, however, are more delicate and need a consistent, lower temperature, so it’s best to bake two of these types together or separately from fruit pies. Avoid pairing highly fragrant pies (like savory or strongly spiced pies) with mild-flavored ones to prevent flavor transfer.

Understanding Baking Times and Temperatures for Different Pie Types

When choosing pies to bake together, ensure they have similar baking times and temperature requirements. Fruit pies generally bake at around 375°F to 400°F, while custard or cream pies usually bake at lower temperatures, around 325°F to 350°F. If you must bake pies with different temperature needs, consider starting both at a median temperature and adjusting times as needed. Check each pie’s doneness frequently, as bake times may vary slightly with two pies in the oven.

Can You Bake Sweet and Savory Pies at the Same Time?

While it’s possible to bake sweet and savory pies simultaneously, consider whether their flavors may affect each other. If you’re baking a sweet pie alongside something like a savory quiche or meat pie, flavors can sometimes mingle, especially if the savory pie contains strong ingredients like onions or garlic. To avoid this, wrap each pie tightly in foil for the first half of the baking process or bake two sweet or two savory pies instead.

Preparing Your Pies for Baking

Once you’ve selected the right pies to bake together, it’s essential to prep them in ways that encourage even baking. From crust preparation to filling adjustments, these tips will help ensure both pies turn out perfectly. By prepping your pies thoughtfully, you’ll set the stage for even, balanced baking, allowing each pie to shine with delicious flavor and perfect texture.

Best Practices for Preparing Pie Crusts in Advance

To streamline the baking process, prepare your pie crusts ahead of time. Whether you’re making homemade crusts or using store-bought, chilling the crusts for at least 30 minutes before baking helps them hold their shape and improves texture. If your crusts are made ahead and refrigerated, allow them to rest at room temperature for 10–15 minutes to prevent cracking when rolled out. For added convenience, you can even blind-bake crusts in advance if needed for certain pie types, like custard pies. Check out our make-ahead pie crust guide for more information.

Ensuring Equal Baking Between Two Pies

To help both pies bake evenly, try to arrange them so they’re similar in thickness and depth. A pie with a dense filling will typically need a longer bake time than one with a lighter filling, so matching fillings that have similar density can improve results. Also, rotate the pies halfway through baking—this means swapping their positions from one rack to the other and turning each pie 180 degrees. This adjustment helps balance out any hot spots in your oven and ensures a consistent bake.

Adjusting Filling Amounts When Baking Two Pies Together

When baking two pies at once, avoid overfilling them, as crowded fillings can slow down the bake time. Aim for fillings that reach just below the crust edge to prevent spillovers. This is especially important for juicy fruit pies, which can bubble over more when baked alongside another pie due to increased oven humidity. Keeping fillings slightly lower allows heat to circulate around both pies more efficiently and minimizes the risk of soggy bottoms or uneven baking.

Oven Temperature and Baking Times

When baking two pies at once, minor adjustments to temperature and timing can make a big difference. Follow these tips to ensure both pies bake evenly without overcooking or underbaking. These slight adjustments in temperature and timing can make a big difference in the outcome of your pies, ensuring they both come out perfectly baked.

Determining the Correct Temperature for Baking Two Pies

If the pies you’re baking require the same temperature, simply preheat your oven to that setting. However, if the pies have different temperature needs, try setting the oven to the median temperature between the two recipes. For example, if one pie requires 350°F and the other 400°F, set your oven to 375°F. Monitor the pies closely, as the adjusted temperature may affect baking times slightly.

Adjusting Baking Times When Using Both Racks

Baking two pies at once may slightly lengthen the baking time, as the oven is working harder to circulate heat evenly. Plan for an additional 5–10 minutes of bake time, but start checking for doneness at the original time specified in the recipe. Remember to rotate the pies halfway through: swap their rack positions and turn each pie 180 degrees. This ensures that both pies bake evenly and avoid hot spots that can cause uneven browning.

Monitoring Doneness of Both Pies Simultaneously

To check if your pies are done, look for key signs: the crust should be golden brown, and for fruit pies, the filling should be bubbling through the slits or edges. Use a knife to insert it gently into the pie’s center—if it meets resistance, the filling may need more time to cook. A kitchen thermometer can also be helpful for custard-based pies; aim for an internal temperature of around 175°F. Check each pie individually, as one may reach doneness before the other.

Using Bakeware Wisely

The type of bakeware you choose can significantly impact the success of baking two pies at once. Selecting the right pans and arranging them correctly will help both pies bake evenly. By choosing bakeware that promotes even heat distribution and arranging your pies thoughtfully in the oven, you’ll set yourself up for success when baking two pies at once. Here’s what to keep in mind: 

Choosing the Best Bakeware for Multiple Pies

For even baking, opt for metal or glass pie pans, as these materials conduct heat well and promote a uniform bake. Metal pans heat up quickly and are ideal for pies that benefit from a well-browned crust, while glass pans allow you to monitor the crust’s color as it bakes. Avoid ceramic or stoneware pans when baking multiple pies, as these materials take longer to heat and can create uneven results when sharing oven space.

Preventing Pies from Touching During Baking

Ensure there’s space around each pie to allow heat to circulate properly. When placing two pies on one oven rack, leave at least 1–2 inches of space between them and between each pie and the oven walls. If you’re using two racks, stagger the pies so they’re not directly above each other, as this arrangement helps avoid shadowing and promotes even heat distribution.

Materials That Conduct Heat Better for Even Baking

If you have the option, use dark metal pans, as they tend to absorb and conduct heat more efficiently than light-colored or non-stick pans. This helps the pies bake through without overcooking the crust edges. Glass pans are also a good choice, especially for monitoring browning and ensuring that both pies bake evenly on the bottom. If using glass or dark metal, consider using a baking sheet underneath to catch any spills and further distribute heat evenly.

Dealing with Common Issues

Baking two pies at once can sometimes lead to challenges, like uneven baking or overflow. Here’s how to troubleshoot and prevent common issues so both pies come out perfectly. By following these simple strategies, you’ll be able to tackle any common issues that arise when baking two pies at once, ensuring both are evenly baked and delicious.

What to Do If One Pie Is Baking Faster Than the Other

If you notice that one pie is browning faster than the other, try covering the edges or top with aluminum foil to slow down the browning process without affecting the filling’s doneness. You can also swap the pies’ positions—move the faster-baking pie to a lower rack and the slower one to a higher rack to balance out the heat. Keep a close eye on both pies as they near the end of the baking time.

Preventing Overflow or Spillage When Baking Two Pies

When baking juicy pies, like fruit pies, overflow can sometimes occur, especially in a crowded oven. To minimize spillage, avoid overfilling the pies and leave about ½ inch of space between the filling and the crust edge. Placing a baking sheet or tray beneath the pies can catch any drips and prevent messes in your oven. If your pies start to bubble over, consider venting the top crust by making additional slits to allow steam to escape.

Minimizing Uneven Browning on the Pies

Uneven browning can occur due to hot spots or proximity to oven walls. To avoid this, rotate the pies halfway through baking by turning each 180 degrees and switching their rack positions if they’re on separate racks. If one pie is browning faster, cover it loosely with foil to protect the crust. For best results, bake with the oven light on, so you can monitor the pies without frequently opening the door, which can cause temperature fluctuations.