Pumpkin Pie from Libby's canned pumpkin
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Anonymous
| I came online hoping to find an answer to the grit question in the Costco pumpkin pies we buy out here in Utah, and it appears I have found the answer. Not sure whether we'll stop buying, but I'm glad to know I wasn't imagining things. |
Anonymous
| I use Libby's for pumpkin bread and it's always gritty- Embarrassing! I thought it was the sugar not dissolving but other baked good don't have this problem |
Anonymous
 I had called Libby awhile back and, of course, they had no idea why there was 'grit' or 'sand' in their pumpkin. They sent me coupons, also which I used on new cans. However, I still noticed an evidence of sand, but not as bad as before. The problem has to be with their washing procedure of the pumpkins.
The problem should have been fixed and they could at least publish the lot nos. of the 'gritty' pumpkin that they have had complaints about, so that we aren't wasting our time and money. |
Anonymous
Yeah, it's definately sand and not seeds/sugar/egg shells etc. It is not confined to just Libby brand, I got some house brand and it has grit. Its not crunchy, it is hard gritty feel that feels like it is hard enough to crack your teeth, but the grit is too small to do that kind of damage. Weird, I know, but its there, no mistake about it... 
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Anonymous
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This suggests the grittiness is lactose crystals (from the milk or from cooking at too high a temperature).b they suggest adding cornstarch.
http://baking911.com/learn/baked-goods/custard/problems-and-solutions |
Anonymous
| I used canned pumpkin from WalMart to make pumpkin bread that was gritty (don't remember the brand). Today I baked a Sara Lee frozen pumpkin pie that is almost as gritty. |
Anonymous
| Yeah, the grit thing is a downer. Costco's pumpkin pies possess this nasty trait. Not sure what to make of it. Am wondering if the pie filling comes from a barnyard? |
Anonymous
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I just returned from the Costco store located in Vista CA where I stopped by the bakery and asked to speak with the department manager regarding grit and/or sand in their pumpkin pies. She said they used to receive the pumpkin filling from Lilly but since the last "year or more", all of the pumpkin puree has been coming from a company called "Seneca". (http://www.senecafoods.com/products/pumpkin). Like most of us who are aware of the issue, I thought it was Lilly (Nestle) who supplied Costco and according to the Bakery manager, they used too before Seneca took over. Before learning of this, I wrote to Lilly (Nestle) and received a reply back saying among other things, this...
"Libby's carefully picks and transports pumpkins to our factory. We use multiple washing systems on the pumpkin but, like lettuce, some tiny grit or sand can make it through the processing system. During the pumpkin processing, we remove the seeds and skin of the pumpkin. However, at times minute pieces can make it through our very fine screens (the holes are about the diameter of the dot on the "i" in the name Libby's). These can also contribute to the grittiness." So there you go...Libby "kind of" admits there is an issue with the pumpkin processing system. However, what they didn't say is anything about Costco and that could be because they no longer are the supplier. If this is the case then our culprit is Seneca, at least regarding the question of why sand and/or grit is turning up in Costco's pumpkin pies. I will see what Seneca has to say and if worthwhile, I will post it here. |
Anonymous
| So it is literally sand? I have never encountered this but would be very disappointed after making a pie. |
Anonymous
| Meijer store brand 100% pure pumpkin, took a spoonful out of the can to sample, gritty, feels like chewing on sand or small pieces of glass. I used another can last Friday and made cupcakes and I couldn't figure out why they were gritty. We couldn't eat them. |
Anonymous
Weird. I just made some pumpkin cake and a pumpkin chili with the Harris Teeter "Farmer's Market" brand of pumpkin (organic), and it was definitely not gritty. |
Anonymous
| Organic canned pumpkin filling from whole foods is still fine. |
Anonymous
| I just made one last week and no sand. Have never had that problem. |
Anonymous
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Yes! I baked a pie last year around this time and was so upset when it was inedible due to sand. I emailed Libby's on their site about it and never got a reply. Well, it's that time of year again, so I figured for sure it would all be OK this time around. But again-it was full of sand! Once again, money down the drain and such a disappointment after smelling it baking
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Anonymous
| I've had that problem too, and thought it was my imagination. I started cooking my own pie pumpkin and have no issues. it's easy. |