What is the purpose of tapioca powder laced on a pie case before adding fillings?

Question

I saw this in movie "Labor Day", after the pie dough is placed, shaped,  as the pie case in the pie-dish, and pierced through with fork, it is laced with tapioca powder before peach slices were put in, then sealed with pie dough on top.

What I do not understand is the purpose of tapioca powder. Why lace it on pie dough, instead of mixing with peach slices? And the pie dough is pierced with fork, that means the juices will run through before the case is harden right?

Hsquared · Accepted Answer

The tapioca flour will absorb the juices from the fruit and prevent you from getting a "soggy bottom" the true curse of the pie maker.  For more on Soggy Bottoms see the BBC's Great British Bake-off  website with Mary Berry and Paul Holywood

Nikki P · Answer

The tapioca will absorb a lot of the juices preventing the crust from getting soggy. 
I have also seen recipes where the tapioca is mixed in with the fruits as well..
With pies like this make sure that the oven is well pre heated and you have your pie plate in the bottom 1/3 of the oven. This will ensure that the crust gets baked and does not become soggy

rogerrabbitanddoe · Answer

It would be to soak up and thicken some juice. The pricking of the crust is to prevent blistering not to let juice run into pan. The use of thickening agents by mixing in is used to create a pie filling with certain fruits that tend to be juicy to begin with like berries

Trending News

What is the purpose of tapioca powder laced on a pie case before adding fillings?

3 Answers