Taste test: frozen pies
KATHY SAUNDERSTampa Bay TimesTuesday, August 14, 2012 4:30am
| | | | |
| Serving size | One of five slices | One pie | One pie | One of four slices |
| Calories | 410 | 370 | 380 | 290 |
| Fat/Fiber | 17g / 0g | 15g / 2g | 24g / 3g | 16g / 2g |
| Sugars/Sodium | 47g / 340mg | 23g / 650mg | 21g / 210mg | 18g / 200mg |
| Carbs/Protein | 60g / 5g | 56g / 3g | 35g / 5g | 37g / 3g |
Frozen desserts are a great time-saver following a weeknight dinner or to have on hand for an unexpected visit from friends. This month, we found four new pies that looked especially delicious in the grocery store freezers. A couple turned out to be as good as they looked. Kathy Saunders, Times correspondent
| Product | Sara Lee Key Lime Creme Pie | Banquet Cherry Berry Pie | Marie Callender's Chocolate Satin Mini Pies | Sara Lee Simple Sweet Apple Pie |
Judges'
comments | Panelists raved about the crust on this pie. It was sweet, crunchy and substantial enough to support the pie while not overpowering the flavor. "It melts in your mouth," said one judge. "It's nice and smooth and has not been overly whipped." All four said the creamy filling tasted like real key limes. They liked the consistency of the pie. "It's not jellylike," said one. "I would definitely buy this," said another. | This pie had a brilliant color and good flavor, although judges said it wasn't their favorite. The golden-brown crust made it look like a homemade pie. The consistency was a bit runny, and the crust reminded them of Banquet's familiar pot pies. A couple judges said the crust was too thin for their taste. "I like that it's delicate looking," said one. "But it lacks something." | Marie Callender didn't disappoint when it came to producing a pretty pie, even in tiny, individual servings. But, judges said, the whipped cream topping was overdone. "It's a beautiful pie that looks like a fresh bakery item," said one. "The crust was a bit crumbly, and the chocolate is overpowered by the whipped cream." Panelists said this pie would have scored better if the top had more chocolate. | "This looks like it just came out of my grandmother's oven," said one judge of Sara Lee's new and revised apple pie. The little pie called a "Simple Sweets" dessert baked perfectly and had thick slices of neatly layered apples. "This is definitely a comfort dessert," said one judge, adding that the apples had just the right amount of sweetness. The aroma was comforting and reminiscent of "apple cider simmering on the stove," said one judge. |
Would
they buy? | All four judges said yes. | One of the four judges said yes. | One of the four judges said yes. | All four judges said yes. |
| Shopping information | $7.39 for a 23-ounce pie from Target. | 89 cents for a 7-ounce pie from Target. | $2.27 for a 6-ounce box of two pies from Walmart. | $2.98 for a 15.4-ounce pie from Walmart. |
Panelists: Kim Thomson, fifth-grade teacher at Pasadena Fundamental Elementary School; Carrie Brown, fourth-grade teacher at Pasadena Fundamental; and Erin Nelson and Mark Nelson, fifth-grade teachers at Lutheran Church of the Cross School in St. Petersburg.
Send suggestions for product testing to: Taste section, Tampa Bay Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731 or email them to jkeeler@tampabay.com. Please put TEST SUGGESTION in the subject line. To read past Taster's Choice columns, go to food.tampabay.com.
Taste test: frozen pies 08/14/12
[Last modified: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 4:30am]
© 2013 Tampa Bay Times
Loading...