Many kinds of pies and tarts require a pre-baked pie shell. These unglazed ceramic pie weights are used when pre-baking pie crusts and tart shells, to keep the pastry from shrinking or forming bubbles during the baking process. the ceramic material is an excellent conductor of heat and holds the pastry shell in place during both the baking and cooling process. Pie weights come in an attractive glass jar. Enough for 2- 9" pie shells. Jar is about 1 1/4 pounds of pie weights.