We Blind Tasted 4 Store-Bought Pie Crusts—Here’s the One That’s Worth It

Published on November 17, 2025

A premade pie crust is one of those baking shortcuts that I rely on during the Thanksgiving cooking marathon. I've spent years mastering my grandmother's all-butter crust recipe, and it's the one I use most of the time. However, there are no awards for making everything from scratch for Thanksgiving, and I believe a pie is still homemade if you sub in a purchased pie crust. To help ensure my desserts are as delicious as possible, I put 4 store-bought pie crusts to the test. The winner was just about as good as my grandma's, and that's high praise.

The 4 Premade Pie Crusts We Tried

To test the pie crusts, each was prepared according to package directions in the Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen. A panel of food editors sampled each blind two ways: on its own and with apple and cherry pie filling. We evaluated them on flavor, flakiness, and if we'd buy the crust again.

• 365 by Whole Foods Market, Frozen Pie Dough
• Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crusts
• Trader Joe's Pie Crusts
• Wholly Wholesome Organic Traditional Frozen Pie Shells

365 by Whole Foods Market, Frozen Pie Dough

Unfortunately this was our tasters' least favorite premade pie crust. Most reviewers felt the baked texture was tough and chewy rather than flaky. Many noted the crust was bland and flavorless. Our Test Kitchen pros also noted the dough wasn't very easy to roll or work with.

Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crusts

While this Pillsbury crust had some flakiness, it didn't score points in the flavor department. Our tasters felt the baked crust had an artificial oily flavor. It was, however, among the easiest to form and bake. It falls firmly in the middle of our taste test. Not bad, but there are better premade pie crusts out there.

Trader Joe's Pie Crusts

Trader Joe's store-brand pie crusts earned rave reviews from our tasters for its flaky, melt-in-your-mouth texture. This premade crust was the sweetest option, which divided our reviewers. Many called out the "sweet, buttery flavor" as a plus, while others felt it was a bit artificial tasting. Our Test Kitchen pros noted that this crust was a bit more difficult to roll and form than other options. Bottom line, if you're shopping at Trader Joe's, this is a solid choice to grab for your holiday baking.

Wholly Wholesome Organic Traditional Frozen Pie Shells

Wholly Wholesome's frozen pie shells took the top spot in our blind taste test, and it wasn't close. Our tasters loved both the flavor and flaky texture. Many commented that this crust was the closest to homemade and specifically called out the crisp flakiness and buttery taste. A touch of sea salt helped pull out all the flavors. The one negative our reviewers called out is that the shell is preformed, so it looks store-bought. But don't let the look turn you off; this option tastes every bit as good as homemade. Find it online and at Whole Foods.