# Pecan Pie - Are the Pecans Cooked or Not? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 18, 2017, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pecan-pie-are-the-pecans-cooked-or-not/804744 "2017-12-18T00:16:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pecan-pie-are-the-pecans-cooked-or-not/804744/21 "2017-12-20T21:51:55Z")
Just need to get pecans and a pie shell. Still have plenty of agave syrup left over from the last time I made low-carb caramel corn. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pecan-pie-are-the-pecans-cooked-or-not/804744/22 "2017-12-22T04:44:09Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > I’m not an expert, but I think they are put in raw and float to the top. When they get to the top, they are exposed and get roasted by the oven. Some fillings are thicker and the pecans don’t float. If that’s the case, you may need to roast them first. However, I’ve had my raw pecans stay at the bottom and it’s still good. Float to the top? Clearly, you are indeed NOT an expert! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pecan-pie-are-the-pecans-cooked-or-not/804744/23 "2017-12-22T13:59:02Z")
In every pecan pie I’ve ever baked, and that’s about 30 pies over the past 7 or so years, the pecans float to the top while baking. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pecan-pie-are-the-pecans-cooked-or-not/804744/24 "2017-12-22T14:05:09Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Best recipe > > ANN LANDERS PECAN PIE > > 1 cup white corn syrup > 1 cup dark brown sugar > 1/3 cup melted butter > 1 cup shelled pecans > 3 eggs > 1 dash vanilla extract > 1 pinch salt > 1 (9-inch size) unbaked pie shell > > Mix all ingredients (except shell) well. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45-50 minutes. Cool. Okay, I’m making two of these, and two of my usual recipe. Four pies! I’ll bring one of each to Christmas Eve dinner, and I’ll keep one of each at home for a side-by-side test. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2017, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pecan-pie-are-the-pecans-cooked-or-not/804744/25 "2017-12-26T00:22:28Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > I’m gonna try my idea of the agave. It’s in the oven, based on the Ann Landers recipe. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2017, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pecan-pie-are-the-pecans-cooked-or-not/804744/26 "2017-12-26T01:36:17Z")
Should have put it in earlier. Don’t know if it’s the oven or the changes to the recipe but it’s taking longer than it should. Won’t be done before our friend goes home but she’ll be back tomorrow; we’ll have some after tomorrow’s dinner. I did try the raw mix before adding the nuts; it’s a little different but still recognizable as pecan pie. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2017, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pecan-pie-are-the-pecans-cooked-or-not/804744/27 "2017-12-26T15:49:20Z")
The one time I tied pecan pie from scratch, including the pasty (and yes, it was DIVINE), the pecans indeed ‘floated’ up and arranged themselves beautifully, browning and toasting gently. It was SO GOOD, I’ve never made it again. I am afraid I’d eat it weekly and weigh even more. My recipe was from the internet, called “Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie”. Anyway, the point was, I wondered how the pecans got to the top, but trusted the recipe, and they did indeed look like they’d been carefully arranged. It was neat. And delicious. So very delicious. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2017, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pecan-pie-are-the-pecans-cooked-or-not/804744/28 "2017-12-26T16:27:20Z")
We must make one again that I may study the floating and arrangement of the pecans. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2017, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pecan-pie-are-the-pecans-cooked-or-not/804744/29 "2017-12-26T21:22:57Z")
Yes the pecans do float to the top while baking. When I make mine, I use mostly chopped pecans and then decoratively arrange a few halves on the top. The chopped pieces float to the top but do not visually disturb the arrangement of the halves. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pecan-pie-are-the-pecans-cooked-or-not/804744/30 "2017-12-27T09:29:15Z")
So… I baked both types of pies, Ann Landers’ and the Karo Syrup recipes. I made two of each. At Christmas Eve dinner the reviews were mixed. Some liked Ann Landers’, and others liked Karo. About half and half. At first I liked Ann Landers’, but as I had other pieces (Christmas day, and tonight I just tried both pies), while both are good I prefer the Karo syrup recipe – its inner filling is gelled with a smoother consistency, while Ann Landers’ inner filling is more gritty. The Karo recipe says the pie is cooked when its insides reach 200 F. I confirmed that. Ann Landers’ recipe is runnier, so pouring it into the pie crust it’s liquidy/runny, and it bakes for a shorter time, 45-50 mins vs 60-70 mins. Ann Landers’s doesn’t specify temperature, so I was concerned because the mix is runnier (looser) and the baking time is shorter. But after 45-50 mins its temperature was 200 so I figured it was done. Both pies cured well, solidifying into a gelled consistency. So yeah, both are good pies. I mildly prefer the Karo syrup one. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pecan-pie-are-the-pecans-cooked-or-not/804744/31 "2017-12-27T14:38:20Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > When I make mine, I use mostly chopped pecans… :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pecan-pie-are-the-pecans-cooked-or-not/804744/32 "2017-12-27T16:31:43Z")
^^ Why dubious? Chopped pecans fill the pie with smaller pieces. They provide better coverage of the filling, and interfere less when cutting the pie. If using pecan halves throughout, then cutting the pie becomes tricky. And messy. I use some pecan halves arranged on top of the pie for visual appeal, and I find that that works best, all around. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pecan-pie-are-the-pecans-cooked-or-not/804744/33 "2017-12-27T17:05:38Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > ^^ Why dubious? Because it doesn’t taste as good. Also, I’ve never had a problem cutting pies with halves. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pecan-pie-are-the-pecans-cooked-or-not/804744/34 "2017-12-27T18:03:43Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Because it doesn’t taste as good. Also, I’ve never had a problem cutting pies with halves. What do you cut it with, an industrial laser? In my experience, the pie comes apart before a knife will slice through a baked pecan. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pecan-pie-are-the-pecans-cooked-or-not/804744/35 "2017-12-27T18:45:47Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > What do you cut it with, an industrial laser? > In my experience, the pie comes apart before a knife will slice through a baked pecan. My experience matches yours. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pecan-pie-are-the-pecans-cooked-or-not/804744/36 "2017-12-27T22:00:09Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > What do you cut it with, an industrial laser? > In my experience, the pie comes apart before a knife will slice through a baked pecan. You must have some mighty hard nuts! I generally use a steak knife, since they’re handy. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pecan-pie-are-the-pecans-cooked-or-not/804744/37 "2017-12-27T22:19:00Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > You must have some mighty hard nuts! Mrs. Plant(v.3.0) often complains about my grocery shopping. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pecan-pie-are-the-pecans-cooked-or-not/804744.md?page=1)