REVEALED: Australia's Best Plain Meat Pie of 2022

It's official – the best plain meat pie in Australia for 2022 has finally been crowned, and it comes from a humble family bakery!

After a stomach-rumbling, head-to-head competition against a jam-packed list of other bakers from across the country, Whittlesea Bakehouse received the Best Plain Meat Pie award.

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The best meat pie in Australia comes from the Whittlesea Bakehouse in Victoria. Credit: Whittlesea Bakehouse.

And we have to say, we're not surprised – just look at that perfect golden crust! With almost two thousand other competitors from around the country, being named the best Aussie pie maker in the country is no small feat.

'The A-Team have done it again! Winner of best plain pie Australia! Winners are grinners,' the Victorian bakery said on its official Facebook page.



We bet you're wondering what makes this particular pie so special. Well, according to Adrian Caporetto, the baker behind Whittlesea Bakehouse's award-winning pastry creation, the secret to their team's success is using quality ingredients.

'I'm a firm believer that if you use good ingredients, good flour, good margarine, you keep it simple and love what you do, then that's what counts,' he explained in an interview.

Mr Caporetto also attributes their success to always 'loving what they do'. That passion really shines through in their finished product, and his team was rightfully thrilled after being recognised for their delicious traditional pies.



If any of our SDC members are aspiring pie-makers, better take out your pen and a notepad because Mike French, Chief Judge of the Official Great Aussie Pie Competition, is here to talk about his thoughts on what he believes makes for a good Aussie meat pie.

According to him, there are three things to look out for when judging a pie:
  • a crispy pastry top with flake,
  • a structurally sound pie bottom,
  • and the pie's filling.


According to French, the ideal pie has a 3-millimetre-thick bottom and sides that are uniformly baked with a lovely golden colour.

'Regardless of the meat you choose, the ultimate pie filling contains meat, thickener, colour, and seasoning, and we recommend adding some onion for flavour,' he added.

'Be sure to pay special attention to the meat-to-pastry ratio to achieve the perfect balance and not jeopardise your structure. The pie should be meaty and tasty with a nice rich brown gravy, not grey or black.'

'The filling should not fall into your lap when hot, or conversely, stick to the roof of your mouth,' he concluded.

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Meat pies are an Aussie icon. Credit: Getty.

And there you have it, folks! This will definitely come in handy the next time you hit up the local bakery.

So what do you think about this story? In your opinion, do you think the traditional plain pie can truly top the chunky steak or chicken and veggie pies? (Tough match, in our opinion…) Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

If you want to learn how to make your own meat pies from scratch, watch the video below:



Credit: OnePotChefShow.
 
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Actually for short crust or hot water pastry, lard is good. The only thing is it is more expensive than the cheapest butter these days. My local IGA and Foodworks does not stock lard.
 
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Most qlders think that Yatala pies are the best they used to be but last few I had whie travelling through to Gold Coast were rubbish. The best pies I had were long ago at the Marrackville mall in Sydney from a butcher, he cooked them there as a side gig

Many old timers say the best ever pies were back in the 50's at railway stations with cafeterias when the steam trains would stop to take on coal and water and passengers had a 30 min break basically home made fare cooked on premises.
 
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Most qlders think that Yatala pies are the best they used to be but last few I had whie travelling through to Gold Coast were rubbish. The best pies I had were long ago at the Marrackville mall in Sydney from a butcher, he cooked them there as a side gig

Many old timers say the best ever pies were back in the 50's at railway stations with cafeterias when the steam trains would stop to take on coal and water and passengers had a 30 min break basically home made fare cooked on premises.
Home made in a wood oven. Can't beat that personal touch. Everything is automated today, good for profits but where is the pride?
 
The pies at my local Vietnamese bakery are pretty good. The pastry is light and fluffy and the tops are quite high. Lots of different fillings, too.
 
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