Stuff We Want: Norpro Ceramic Pie Bird, the Little Guy Who Screams Steam So Your Pie Doesn't
"thanksgiving 2026" is rising on Google Trends. Pie season starts now.
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Google Trends has thanksgiving 2026 climbing this morning, with "when is thanksgiving 2026" right behind it. Answer: Thursday, November 26. Which means you have about three and a half weeks to figure out who's making the pie.
If it's you, meet your new sous chef. He's three and a half inches tall and his whole job is screaming.
The Norpro Ceramic Pie Bird is an old-school baking trick. You set the bird in the middle of the bottom crust, pile the filling around him, drape the top crust over, and pinch it so his beak pokes through.
While it bakes, steam escapes through his open beak. That helps stop fruit fillings from boiling over and keeps the top crust from going soggy. It works for chicken pot pie too.
He's oven-safe ceramic, painted like a classic blackbird with a yellow beak, and measures 3.5 x 1.75 x 1.75 inches. Hand washing is recommended.
The real reason to buy one: you pull the pie out, set it on the table, and there's a tiny bird yelling out of it. Nobody at Thanksgiving is talking about politics after that. They're talking about the bird.
Who it's for
- Thanksgiving pie makers tired of scraping bubbled-over filling off the bottom of the oven.
- Christmas stocking stuffers for the baker in the family.
- Pot pie people, who need steam to go somewhere too.
Who should skip it
- Single-crust pie loyalists. Pumpkin and pecan don't need a vent.
- Store-bought pie households. No shame. The bird just won't have a job.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Vents steam through its beak.
- Oven-safe ceramic.
- Works for fruit pies and pot pies.
- Instant table conversation piece.
Cons
- Only useful for double-crust pies.
- Hand washing recommended.
Pros and cons are our read of the features on the listing, not a hands-on test.
How it compares
Vs. a knife slit in the crust: the slit works. The slit has never once made your aunt laugh.
Pie day lineup: the CucinaPro apple peeler for the filling, the squirrel gravy boat for the rest of the table, and our Thanksgiving hosting finds.
More for the holiday: our Thanksgiving picks and Christmas gift picks.
FAQ
When is Thanksgiving 2026?
Thursday, November 26, 2026.
What does a pie bird actually do?
It vents steam out of a double-crust pie through its beak, which helps keep fillings from boiling over and the top crust from going soggy.
How do I use it?
Put it in the center of the bottom crust, add the filling around it, then lay the top crust over and pinch it so the beak pokes through.
Is it dishwasher safe?
The listing recommends hand washing.
The verdict
The verdict: hand-picked for Thanksgiving pie season. Small, weird, useful, and guaranteed to be the most photographed thing on the dessert table.
#ad. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Hand-picked by The Deez List.
