Cake decorating tips and bags

My advice is to buy a washable, inexpensive decorating bag and some plain tips (just a few right now).... you'll be using them from now on, after all.
Just wash well before you use.
[img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

Well, I was a wannabe cake decorator before all this pa stuff came up to allow me to fulfill my dream with good excuse.
I like the disposable bags. They are not expensive at all and so easy. I just toss them when I'm finished.
Better to have real stuff than making due with a ziplock with a hole cut in it though. Not worth the frustration!
I have a nice star tip, a big round tip for writing, rose petal tip, and a leaf tip. Those 4 can get you through any situation.
Good luck with finding your supplies you like!
Patty

Reusable bags are fine--just use separate ones for regular (buttercream style) icing and one exclusively for royal icing. Any oils can break down royal icing and it's nearly impossible to make sure all the oils are washed off the bags.
Also, I only handwash my bags turning them inside out and right side out. Lots of warm/hot, soapy water and rinse them thoroughly. The bags just won't get as clean IMO in the dishwasher.
In addition, make sure you take off your rings, connectors, and tips. Handwash them in warm/hot soapy water. My cake decorating instructor once told my class about a woman who used to throw her bags in the dishwasher never taking off the connector or ring. Guess what was growing underneath? Yes, funky moldy gunk. Handwash all your tips and use a Wilton tip brush designed specifically to get gunk out of the tips.
I stand my bags on the counter/towel to air dry all day after washing.
The throw-away plastic bags are a bit more expensive, but a joy for cleanup. Ditto with parchment triangles, but there's more work involved in making them. I prefer to use parchment or the throw-away plastic ones for royal icing anyway. My reusables are for buttercream icings.

My advice is to buy a washable, inexpensive decorating bag and some plain tips (just a few right now).... you'll be using them from now on, after all.
Just wash well before you use.
[img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

Well, I was a wannabe cake decorator before all this pa stuff came up to allow me to fulfill my dream with good excuse.
I like the disposable bags. They are not expensive at all and so easy. I just toss them when I'm finished.
Better to have real stuff than making due with a ziplock with a hole cut in it though. Not worth the frustration!
I have a nice star tip, a big round tip for writing, rose petal tip, and a leaf tip. Those 4 can get you through any situation.
Good luck with finding your supplies you like!
Patty

Reusable bags are fine--just use separate ones for regular (buttercream style) icing and one exclusively for royal icing. Any oils can break down royal icing and it's nearly impossible to make sure all the oils are washed off the bags.
Also, I only handwash my bags turning them inside out and right side out. Lots of warm/hot, soapy water and rinse them thoroughly. The bags just won't get as clean IMO in the dishwasher.
In addition, make sure you take off your rings, connectors, and tips. Handwash them in warm/hot soapy water. My cake decorating instructor once told my class about a woman who used to throw her bags in the dishwasher never taking off the connector or ring. Guess what was growing underneath? Yes, funky moldy gunk. Handwash all your tips and use a Wilton tip brush designed specifically to get gunk out of the tips.
I stand my bags on the counter/towel to air dry all day after washing.
The throw-away plastic bags are a bit more expensive, but a joy for cleanup. Ditto with parchment triangles, but there's more work involved in making them. I prefer to use parchment or the throw-away plastic ones for royal icing anyway. My reusables are for buttercream icings.