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07-03-2009 at 12:40 PM
Loveofjoe1...
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Loveofjoe11 is not online. Last active: 11-21-2009, 11:43 PMSilver

For the Cake Bakers/Decorators

Hello!  Semi-lurker coming out of hiding.

I don't have a predictable schedule to take the Wilton courses, so I'm trying to teach myself.  So if you don't mind, think you could answer a couple of my questions?  

1. Do you actually wash your decorating bags in the dishwasher?  Do they hold up?

2. Do you keep your couplers on the non-disposable bags?  To me that seems easiest.

3. Do you use the merinque powder?  I've seen two different buttercrea recipes, one called for it, the other didn't...they were both from Wilton.

4. Do you use the baking strips and do they really help make your cake level?

5. I don't have the turn table and I'm just using my plastic cake carrying case, is the turn table worth the investment?

Thanks for letting me pick your brains!



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07-03-2009 at 2:27 PM
sctiger524...
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Greenville, SC
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sctiger52408 is not online. Last active: 11-21-2009, 9:40 PMSilver

1. Do you actually wash your decorating bags in the dishwasher?  Do they hold up? I've had success washing them by hand. 

2. Do you keep your couplers on the non-disposable bags?  To me that seems easiest. I do keep them.  I have a lot of couplers so I don't have to keep washing them.  They're cheap, so it's worth it to buy a few packs of them.

3. Do you use the merinque powder?  I've seen two different buttercrea recipes, one called for it, the other didn't...they were both from Wilton. I use it.

4. Do you use the baking strips and do they really help make your cake level? I don't have them, although I'm interested in getting them and seeing the difference it makes.

5. I don't have the turn table and I'm just using my plastic cake carrying case, is the turn table worth the investment? Definitely!  It makes frosting and decorating so much easier.

Good luck!  Don't forget to use coupons to buy supplies! :)



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07-03-2009 at 5:12 PM
Baker_Brid...
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Joined on 01-26-2007
Chicago
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Baker_Bride is not online. Last active: 11-22-2009, 12:30 AMBronze


1. Do you actually wash your decorating bags in the dishwasher?  Do they hold up? I always hand wash mine. It's pretty easy and I think they might melt in dishwasher.

2. Do you keep your couplers on the non-disposable bags?  To me that seems easiest. I do not because not all tips are used with a coupler and sometimes I just make parchment paper bags which also don't require a coupler.

3. Do you use the merinque powder?  I've seen two different buttercrea recipes, one called for it, the other didn't...they were both from Wilton. I actually use merengue I make myself. I make the buttercream where you make a merengue with hot simple syrup and then slowly add butter (Alton Brown's recipe more or less). 

4. Do you use the baking strips and do they really help make your cake level? No, I just level them off on my turntable with a ruler and a sharp bread knife

5. I don't have the turn table and I'm just using my plastic cake carrying case, is the turn table worth the investment? Absolutely. Nothing will make your cake decorating easier.

 
07-03-2009 at 5:47 PM
kokomama
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Florida
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kokomama is not online. Last active: 11-20-2009, 5:08 PMSilver

1. Do you actually wash your decorating bags in the dishwasher?  Do they hold up?  I took the classes when I didn't have a dishwasher, so I got used to washing them by hand.  I have separate bags for buttercream and royal icing.

2. Do you keep your couplers on the non-disposable bags?  To me that seems easiest.  I take couplers out after each time I'm done with the bags.

3. Do you use the merinque powder?  I've seen two different buttercrea recipes, one called for it, the other didn't...they were both from Wilton.  I use the meringue powder only if I want the icing to crust (harden slightly)

4. Do you use the baking strips and do they really help make your cake level?  I have not had any success with baking strips.  They usually made my cakes sink in the middle.  I just lop off the mound before stacking and icing (more to snack on!)

5. I don't have the turn table and I'm just using my plastic cake carrying case, is the turn table worth the investment?  I love the turntable.  I have a fancy W-S one, but even the little plastic Wilton one (non-elevated) helps a lot.

Thanks for letting me pick your brains!

Good luck!


 

07-03-2009 at 6:01 PM
QT3.14
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Joined on 10-12-2004
Arizona
17,716 Points
QT3.14 is not online. Last active: 11-21-2009, 11:34 PMBronze

1. Do you actually wash your decorating bags in the dishwasher?  Do they hold up? I wash them by hand.

2. Do you keep your couplers on the non-disposable bags?  To me that seems easiest. I reuse the couplers

3. Do you use the merinque powder?  I've seen two different buttercrea recipes, one called for it, the other didn't...they were both from Wilton. Sometimes I use it

4. Do you use the baking strips and do they really help make your cake level? I use them and they definitely help

5. I don't have the turn table and I'm just using my plastic cake carrying case, is the turn table worth the investment? I don't have one


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07-03-2009 at 9:25 PM
Lisa07033
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Lisa07033 is not online. Last active: 11-21-2009, 10:06 PMBronze

1 no

2 no

3 sometimes

4 yes

5 yes


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07-03-2009 at 10:30 PM
Jigginjess...
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Joined on 06-19-2006
Ohio
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Jigginjessica is not online. Last active: 11-20-2009, 2:02 PMBronze

1. Do you actually wash your decorating bags in the dishwasher?  Do they hold up?I've always hand washed.

2. Do you keep your couplers on the non-disposable bags?  To me that seems easiest.I do not store my couplers on (in?) the bags. I keep them in my case

3. Do you use the merinque powder?  I've seen two different buttercrea recipes, one called for it, the other didn't...they were both from Wilton. It depends what kind of consistency I am going for. Typically no, but for cookie decorating yes and occasionally for cakes/cupcakes

4. Do you use the baking strips and do they really help make your cake level? Yes, I LOVE them. I would never bake a cake without them again.

5. I don't have the turn table and I'm just using my plastic cake carrying case, is the turn table worth the investment? I also LOVE my turntable. It makes things so much easier and more smooth.


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