Excuse Me Sir, But There's A Bird In My Pie

Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocket full of rye.
Four and twenty blackbirds,
Baked in a pie.

 The familiar nursery rhyme calls for 24 blackbirds to be baked in a pie. But you really only need one. Acting as a vent to release steam while baking, a pie bird prevents a bubbling mess of sticky sugar syrup and fruit from boiling out all over the place and baking to the bottom of your oven. A pie bird also supports the top crust, keeping it from sagging in the middle. The result is a lovely, picture-perfect pie.

For years, many pie birds have been spending their days quietly retired in Grandma's knick-knack cabinet, long forgotten as a collectible antique. But what's old is what's new. Pie birds are back in fashion. Try baking your next pie with the help of a pie bird, and find out for yourself what all the excitement is about. Don't put a fork in it. Put a pie bird in it.

Norpro offers both a modern Silicone Pie Bird and a traditional Ceramic Pie Bird. Your choice. And while you're at it, don't forget pie chains and pie crust shields.