I swear there are some things I have had to learn the hard way. And by hard way, I mean MESSY way. Filling a pastry bag is one of those. For years, I could not fill one of those things without having frosting up to my elbows. Then, I learned this handy dandy little trick:
Put your tip into the pastry bag. Take a tall drinking glass and put the bag into the cup, the tip down. Fold the pastry bag over the top of the cup {there should be several inches of pastry bag folded over the outside of the cup}. Using a spatula, grab a bit of frosting and put it into the now open pastry bag.
Use the side of the cup to scrap the frosting off of the spatula. When you have finished loading the pastry bag, just gather up the folded sides off of the cup and VOILA! your pastry bag is loaded, your wrists and elbows are clean, and you are ready to go. {The only downside is that you don’t get to lick the frosting off of your hands.}
~Mavis
Terry K. says
Just discovered this trick myself about a year ago, after decorating professionally for over 20 years. Had to give myself a good smack in the head. Duh… Makes decorating so much easier and less messy. Thanks for spreading the word! 🙂
Stacey says
Wow, this is so simple I can’t believe I haven’t heard of it before. Genius!
ChrisM says
Ah!! Why have I not thought of this!
Cecily says
I use this method with sandwich bags. I put mayonnaise, nacho cheese sauce, icing etc in, seal, snip off the corner of the bag and squeeze away.
Crystal says
I love good gardening gloves.
Veronica says
Great tip, I just fought with a pastry bag this weekend. With this info it should be a breeze to fill them from now on. Thanks for sharing this tip.
Candice C says
There is an even non-messier way to fill a pastry bag with very little to clean up after you are done. I cannot recall the blog I read this on but if anyone knows please give her credit. The icing is placed in the center of a piece of plastic wrap, then the wrap is folded over and twirled around holding both ends (take seconds) to twist the ends. One end is tied off with an overhand knot and the other is threaded through the bag and coupler. Then snip the end you threaded through and add the tip of choice and the ring that holds the tip is screwed on. Be sure to turn down the bag to ease threading it through (from the inside of the bag so the plastic wrapped icing can be tugged through the opening before adding the tip. The end of the bag is merely twisted and rubber banded or just hold. Clean up is a breeze as you just unscrew the tip and pull the plastic wrapped icing through the wide end of the bag and toss in the garbage. Then rinse the bag and tip in sudsy water and you are done. I promise you this is so easy.. if you can understand these instructions. Also, a plastic popsicle container makes a great holder for filled bags if you are using several colors such as at holiday time.
akaGaGa says
I’ve been doing cakes for decades and never heard of this. Thanks!
And if I understand it correctly, the idea from Candice sounds good, too.
My gang might get a cake just so I can try these ideas. 🙂