What is the Difference Between Pie and Tart?

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The main differences between pies and tarts in terms of crust, structure, and baking methods are as follows:

  • Crust: Pies have a thin and smooth crust, while tarts have a thicker and crumbly crust. Pie crusts are flaky and light, whereas tart crusts are firm and crumbly.
  • Structure: Pies are typically covered from all sides and can have a bottom, top, or both crusts. Tarts are open from the top and only have a bottom crust. They have shallow sides and are usually baked in a pan with a removable bottom or a pastry ring.
  • Baking Methods: Pies are served straight from the dish in which they were baked, while tarts are baked in a pan with a removable bottom or a pastry ring.

Both pies and tarts are sweet or savory dishes with a crust and a filling, but their crusts and structures differ, making them distinct baked goods.

Comparative Table: Pie vs Tart

The main differences between pies and tarts are their shape, crust, and depth. Here is a comparison table highlighting the differences:

Feature Pie Tart
Shape Deeper, with sloping sides Shallower, with straight sides
Crust Top and bottom crust Bottom crust only
Depth Holds more filling due to deeper dish Holds less filling due to shallower dish

Pies typically have a pastry top crust, while tarts have a pastry bottom crust and are open-topped, with the filling exposed. The shape of the dish also plays a role in differentiating between pies and tarts: pies are baked in deeper dishes with sloping sides, while tarts are baked in shallow dishes with straight sides.