Pie Safes

In earlier times, when a lady baked pies, she usually made several at one time. Fruit pies would usually keep for a few days, and the family would likely eat them quickly. However, she didn't want to leave them setting out where critters could get to them, especially overnight, and there were no special containers to hold them. The answer was the pie safe.

The pie safe was a special cabinet designed to hold pies. It was made from wood with punched tin inserts, at least in the front. Some ingenious homemakers would set the saucers under the legs of the cabinet and fill them with water to keep ants and other insects from invading the pies.

Pie Safes came in many sizes and designs. Some were rustic, where the builder was only concerned with its practicality. Others were elaborate and beautifully designed. However, the family was often more interested in the goodies the cabinet might contain than in its craftsmanship. Today, however, they've become collector's pieces.

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