There seems to really be nothing on the web to tell me about what types of brushes to use for painting on a cake. Im not talking about basting brushes or pastry brushes. I need to build a set of brushes that are suitable for using on food. I went in Micheals the other day and noticed the many types of brushes for painting. Are any ok to use on food?

(I know it may sound odd), But can you use animal hair brushes for cakes? Toba Garett has a Sable brush listed in her materials used. Can I use Sable? What about taklon, nylon, or the chinese brushes?

[I want to have a nice set of brushes for work. Not the childrens cheap brushes. I cant get fine lines with those and they dont come in certain sizes. Preferably an acrylic handle. Anything like that I can use?]

Thank you guys for all your help!

there are synthetic brushes available but I have been using the inexpensive craft brushes and then altering them as I need. trimming and taking out bristles etc.

I have often time wondered about the sanitation of animal hair brushed and of course the shedding that can occur.

I will watch your post to see if anyone else has a better solution for you. You have peaked my interest as well now.

Best of luck to you

I use only taklon... not too expensive, and I keep a set of them solely for cakes. I have a separate palette too.

The sables are pretty expensive, so these I use only for my watercolour work... they do not go anywhere near my cakes. Also, they shed, not much, but they do.

i use all different types, some synthetic some not, but the common thing i look for is nice soft bristles and that they are well bound(or whatever you call it) then they wont shed too much. I like to have a range of very fine brushes for writing and such and flat brushes for dusting. A few fluffy ones for shimmer and no. 3/4 for a glue brush

How do you clean your brushes after using them on a cake? Do you send them through the dishwasher? How do you sanitize them?

At the ICES convention Norm Davis was asked what type of brushes he uses and he said that he uses the cheap synthetic ones and does not recommend the natural bristle brushes. I can't remember why. I also think he mentioned going to Michael's and getting them. I could be wrong on this, but I am sure about the synthetic bristles.

I was in another demo and the same question was asked and the same reply was given.. One of them said just to try different ones until you get the effect from ones you like, as different people like different things.

I just wash mine brushes with hot soapy water. I lay them in a pan of it and let them soak for a few hours. . Then rinse them really well.

One of the nice things about using cheap brushes is that it is not so painful to replace them.

Good point Thallo. Thank you for sharing that info.