The Great Pie Taste Test: Store-Bought vs. Homemade
With the 4th of July approaching and a recent study showing three out of four Americans prefer homemade pie, an office-wide taste test was in order. I was tasked with making and buying apple pies to see which ones came out on top. We would compare not just taste, but also time spent and cost.
Store-Bought Pies: Quick but Generic
I started with the easiest option: store-bought pies. The bakery offered two types—a crusted top and a Dutch-style pie. On sale at 2 for $6, these pies were affordable, but they were what you’d expect: decent but not memorable. One coworker even noted a metallic taste, likely from the tin pans.
Homemade Crust: A Labor of Love
Next, I tried making a pie from scratch. I found a simple online recipe with only nine ingredients. From peeling the apples to baking, the process took about an hour and a half. I used a $3.89 glass pie dish instead of a tin pan, giving it a more authentic homemade feel.
Store-Bought Crust with a Twist
For the third pie, I used a store-bought crust to save time. I added a streusel topping made from sugar, cinnamon, and a few ingredients, which gave it a homemade touch. This pie took about an hour and 15 minutes to make, but the cost was higher—$19.82—because of the extra ingredients and preparation method.
The Results: Homemade Wins
Store-bought pies: 2 for $6, easy but generic, left half uneaten.
Homemade crust pie: $12.46, 1.5 hours to make, fully enjoyed.
Store-bought crust with streusel: $19.82, 1 hour 15 minutes, also gone.
The homemade pies were clear favorites, disappearing first. Yet, many in the office admitted they wouldn’t try making pies themselves, despite preferring the taste.
Try It Yourself
If you want to give homemade pies a try, visit the recipe sites I used and experiment with your own twists. The results might surprise you!
Happy 4th of July!!
Recipe using store bought crust:
Apple Pie Recipe 1
Recipe using homemade crust:
Apple Pie Recipe 2
Sources:
Food Reference
Food Network
Pillsbury
