By KRISTINA VANNI
Bake Pumpkin Pies Just Right Using The Wiggle Test
The ideal pumpkin pie should have the entire filling perfectly set, with any blemishes aptly hidden. However, poking it with a knife to test its doneness can leave a nasty slash.
That said, the wiggle test, which involves no fancy tools but requires giving the pie a gentle nudge while it's still in the oven, can tell if your pie is ready to be taken out.
When your pie is ready to come out, its edges near the crust should be firm, but the center should still be jiggly. The filling shouldn’t slosh or look wavy on top with the nudge.
If the surface wiggles slightly in the center, the pie is ready to come out of the oven. Once taken out, the residual heat will continue to cook your pie as it rests and cools.
While taking a pie out of the oven with a slightly underdone center will yield a perfect pie in a few hours, waiting for it to set inside the oven will lead to an overcooked mess.