Every person in every county of our fair isle has a claim to the best pie. From the humble pork pie to the tasty steak and ale through the slightly obscure ones (butter pie, anyone?) and even sweeter versions, pies are one of this nation’s favourite foods.
And there are two things people will generally agree on regarding pies. The first is that pies are great, and we should all eat more. The second is that pastry can be a real pain to work with, which puts people (me) off making them. Thankfully, the latter should be a thing of the past with the introduction of the Salter Double Deep-Fill Pie Maker.
Designed to take the stress out of pie making, this gadget will make two deep-fill pies simultaneously. It should be an easy way to make the pies that we all love without the faff of learning how to cook pastries properly. I’m a big fan of almost any pie, and I’ve been missing my favourite pub grub - so I jumped at the chance to make my pies at home.
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Build
• Non-stick
• Cool touch handle
• Safety lock latch
Take the pie maker out of the box, and it’s about the same size as a panini press or 4-in-1 Snack Maker. You can also immediately feel the quality; there’s a good weight to it, and it feels genuinely sturdy.
Though for supposed ‘XL’ pie wells, I expected them to be a bit deeper. I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt until I make my first pie.
One of the most impressive features included is the double-sided pastry cutter to get the perfect pie every time. The larger base-cutter also features grooves so you can easily fit the pie wells. The only downside is you need rather large hands to grasp it.
I guess the proof will be in the pudding.
Performance
• Crimping edges
• Quick pre-heat
• Indicator lights
Simply plug it in and it will begin to heat up (you’ll know this because the red light on top will illuminate). After roughly three minutes the green light will come on to indicate the maker is up to the correct temperature and ready to make a pie.
Usability
• Fast process
• So many possibilities
• Simple, straightforward
It’s then a simple case of using the pastry cutter to make a top and base from the shop-bought pastry. Carefully place the base into the pie well, spoon in your pre-cooked filling (making sure not to overfill it), and add the top piece before closing the lid, letting it cook for roughly ten minutes.
What's to love?
I made various pies with the Salter, both sweet and savoury. Each filling was pre-cooked as Salter requested, and each was very tasty. All the pies were delicious, and the pastry had a lovely texture. The crimped edges are a quality touch.
Easy as pie.
Why use a pie maker?
If you're a big fan of pies and regularly make them, then this kitchen gadget is a real no-brainer. The pies are tasty and easy to make. Plus, there is no risk of an undercooked centre giving you a bad case of food poisoning. It's a quality piece of engineering, compact when not in use and incredibly intuitive to use. In short, this pie maker is a great addition to your kitchen if you like pies and detest trying to make them the old-fashioned way.
What about cleaning?
Cleaning the pie maker is rather simple. Unplug the machine and wait for it to cool. Once cool, use a damp cloth to wipe the pie wells and dry thoroughly. Salter provides a cleaning guide for more stubborn marks, which is nice. The non-stick surface makes it easy to clean overall.
Any negatives?
The only real issue with the pie maker was removing the pies once cooked. It might be slightly crude, but the best way I found was to lever it out with a kitchen utensil while holding the maker at an angle (being careful not to burn my hands). Use a wood or heat-resistant plastic utensil to protect the non-stick finish.
Price
You can find this Salter Pie Maker Non-Stick Double Deep Fill Pie Maker for around £30.
It's a little investment, but the results are super tasty.
salterhousewares.co.uk
Verdict
We love this pie maker. Not only is it ridiculously easy to use, but the build quality is fantastic. We can guarantee you’ll make a whole range of pies in no time. However, your culinary masterpieces can be a little difficult to remove from the appliance once cooked.
Plus, a recipe book would have been awesome.
Ryan Gilmore is a contributor to What's The Best. He also writes for CAR and Parkers.
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