Pie Baking contest criteria

[ACG]

I am the Office Manager, we are having a pie baking contest. I need to give people the criteria for judging. Help!

[Irulan]

Mmm. Pie.

No store bought pie or crust for starters. No canned filling.
This seems like the wrong season - it's going to be hard to get fresh fruit, berries etc.

Crust ---- Flakey? Soggy? Chewy? Do you want to award extra points for successful whole wheat crest? What about the visuals? Nicely fluted edge, even browning, steam cuts, lattice?

Fruit fillings - over cooked? Not oversweetened? Is the filling runny? Set too much?

How about overall flavoring - just right, bland, needs something? Not enough spice, too much? The fruit itself - an example might be some kinds of apples really get mushy and have no flavor and just should not be used for pie, period.

Other kinds of pies....nicely set? Not runny? Not leaking?

[Tuckervill]

How's this?

Open to any individual who is a Pennsylvania resident; one entry per person.

2. Entry to be a pie that must include at least 60% apples in the filling. It does not
need to be a “traditional” two crusted apple pie and it can have a variety of fillings.

3. The entire pie must be submitted for judging in a disposable pie pan.

4. Recipe must be submitted with the entry for the pie and pie crust, printed on one
side of 8 ½” x 11” paper. Recipe must list all ingredients, quantities, and the
preparation instructions. Entrant’s name, address and phone number must be
printed on the back side of all the pages.

5. Refrigeration is not available at the Fair or PA Farm Show. Entries that require
refrigeration after baking must indicate so in the recipe. Those entries will not be
sold, auctioned or otherwise distributed for consumption after judging for food
safety reasons.

6. Judging will be based on the following criteria:
Flavor 30 points
Filling: consistency, doneness, moistness, & flavor 25 points
Crust: color, flavor, texture, doneness 20 points
Overall Appearance 15 points
Creativity 10 points

[withm]

Mimi will see this for sure and get Raleighdon to respond. He is known around the world for his piemaking skills.

[Blueberry]

Creativity - something more than just basic pie.

Use of local ingredients (we have a local pie baker who is great).

Definitely rate the crust - not too hard, not storebought, etc.

CA

[Irulan]

mmm.... I dunno about the creativity thing. Sometimes the most simple basic pie ( fresh picked huckle berries or peaches) without embellishments ( ice cream exception) is the most heavenly....

[derailed]

I enjoy pies which are very traditional, but have an element of inspiration.

For a competition, I would think it interesting to ask for a note card explaining the inspiration behind the recipe. It might be a family favorite, a new crust recipe, something seen on TV, or simply a good sale on a fruit.
This might help a judge understand an otherwise boggling decision.

The crust should not be so wet on the bottom as to sog. No running liquid, but not a starch-fest to glue it together. Meringues should be cooked through but not cracked. Weeping is acceptable due to transit issues.

Fruit must be identifiable visually and by taste.

Have fun, I'm jealous that you get to try all of those pies!


edit: also, all ingredients must be listed, even secret ones. In this day of allergies everywhere, it's best that no one get an unpleasant surprise.

[Tri Girl]

For some stupid reason, I read the title and thought it said: Pie BARKING contest and I had to see what pie barking is. Oh jeez, I really need this 3 day weekend.