Disposable Decorating Bags Versus Featherweight Reusable...

Decorating By PinkPetals Updated 18 Oct 2013 , 8:24am by owatto

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PinkPetals Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 6:57pm
post #1 of 27

Is the ease of clean-up worth the ongoing cost of buying disposable decorating bags? Or do you use the reusable kind and wash them out? Lately I've been so tired after decorating that it's so nice to pull out my tips and toss the bag. But I'm just curious what all of you guys do icon_smile.gif

26 replies
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tiggy2 Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 7:02pm
post #2 of 27

I use disposable because I hate washing the bags. If you break the cost down per bag it really isn't that bad.

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__Jamie__ Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 7:04pm
post #3 of 27

I use both, it depends on my mood I guess. I don't like washing a lot of bags, but sometimes, I don't want to deal with possible "bag blowout" either.

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mrsclox Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 7:07pm
post #4 of 27

I like the feel and strength of featherweight, but HATE the clean up. I prefer disposable. Plus, sometimes I have trouble getting my couplers to screw together over a featherweight.

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KathyTW Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 7:16pm
post #5 of 27

I used to try to use disposable all the time, just for ease of cleanup....but since I heard about frosting plugs I pretty much only use the washable bags.

Do a search on frosting plugs and you'll find out all about them!

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indydebi Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 7:20pm
post #6 of 27

I dont' even OWN any non-disposable bags anymore. In my shop, time is money so the bottom line is that disposables are cheaper for me all the way around. Plus I just think they're more sanitary. I'll be the first to admit that sounds silly, but .....! The cost-per-bag is practically pennies. I buy a box of 100 and it lasts me for weeks.

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mgwebb68 Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 7:21pm
post #7 of 27

I use both, depending on what I'm doing. If I'm working with a lot of colors and tips, I use the disposable ones. If I'm only working with a couple of colors I use the featherweight ones.

Regarding my preference, I definitely prefer the featherweight bags, they just feel better and I feel like I have better control. I started out thinking I wouldn't need them since I'm just a hobby baker but I got one to use with the frosting tip and it was so comforatble in my hand that I bought several more.

For me clean-up isn't that big of a deal. I just get my water really hot, get all the frosting I can out, drizzle in a little dawn, get the sprayer and it cleans up in a flash, no residual greasy feel, no color stains. Sometimes I'd rather clean that up than mess with getting the couplers out of a disposable bag.

Haven't tried the frosting plugs yet, wish I heard about them sooner.

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tiggy2 Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 7:29pm
post #8 of 27

cakesbyjam and I found some new disposable bags at our DOS a couple of months ago and really like them. They have a rough texture on the outside so they aren't slippery. They are a little more expensive but I really like them.

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jaybug Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 7:30pm
post #9 of 27

If I only need a small amount of different color frostings, I just cut the corner on ziplock bags put my tip on and I'm good to go. thumbs_up.gif

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PinkZiab Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 7:39pm
post #10 of 27

I use all disposable bags... not worth my time to be scrubbing out piping bags. I do keep some canvas bags on hand (I like Ateco brand best), and I actually drop the disposable bag inside the canvas one because I find the canvas easier to grip/handle, especially when it's hot.

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indydebi Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 7:57pm
post #11 of 27
Quote:
Originally Posted by mgwebb68

Sometimes I'd rather clean that up than mess with getting the couplers out of a disposable bag.



Cut the bag off about an inch above the coupler. Cut a slit in the plastic bag to be able to "unwrap" the coupler. They're disposable.....cut them off and trash 'em.

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tomsmom245 Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 7:59pm
post #12 of 27

Disposable all the way! I use frosting plugs and the bags last forever.

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-588591.html

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mgwebb68 Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 8:07pm
post #13 of 27

Indydebi - this is me hitting myself on the head saying "duh"... Don't know why it never dawned on me to cut above the coupler, again, duh. I usually try to just cut a snip in the plastic bag and pull the coupler out. What I usually end up snipping is my finger.

my way thumbsdown.gif - your way thumbs_up.gif much better.

But they are still a little slippery in my hot hands. Maybe I'll put the disposable one in the featherweight bag and try that.

Thanks Indydebi and PinkZiab!

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indydebi Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 8:13pm
post #14 of 27
Quote:
Originally Posted by mgwebb68

Indydebi - this is me hitting myself on the head saying "duh"... Don't know why it never dawned on me to cut above the coupler,


YOu're not alone. I've read threads where folks would just drop the tip in the bag (I do that with the BIG tips ... no coupler), and they'd anguish about having to stick their hand into the bag to get the tip out. Huh? Just cut the dang thing off and slip the tip out. They'd respond the same way .... "DUH!" icon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gif

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candice1988 Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 8:18pm
post #15 of 27

I like to use my featherweights for royal icing because they're a lot easier to clean since there's no grease. For buttercream I always stick to disposable since I can just cut off the tip and throw the bag away.

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tonedna Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 8:22pm
post #16 of 27

I don't like featherweight..is too soft and slippery, gets greasy outside with use..
I prefer disposable..
Edna icon_smile.gif

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mackeymom Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 8:31pm
post #17 of 27

I agree with other posters. I will mix between the two. I like th durability of the featherweight, but hate cleaning them. I have tried the ziplock bag trick before, but I always have a blowout with them.

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sweetcakes Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 8:38pm
post #18 of 27

th only time i use disposable it when i take a repair kit with me on a delivery, otherwise its parchment 99% of the time for me. I use FW for borders and larger tips.

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bakingatthebeach Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 11:25pm
post #19 of 27

If Im not changing the tip, I just throw the tip in the bag without a coupler, then just cut the bag a little above the tip to get it out when Im done. If im changing tips, I use a coupler.

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Evoir Posted 23 Jun 2009 , 11:37pm
post #20 of 27

Fine piping RI or BC - parchment

Masses of buttercream - disposable all the way. I get them via eBay for $6 per 100. They are rough on the outside, easy to handle.

RI - either disposable or canvas depending on the thickness of the RI, and fine-ness of the tip.

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mclaren Posted 24 Jun 2009 , 1:05am
post #21 of 27

i use disposables. ok it may surprise many people that i wash my disposable bags icon_razz.gif and reuse, until they are non-reusable anymore (that'll take a while to happen).

another thing, while i do have couplers, i don't really like using them. so what i do is, i stuff icing in one dispo bag (call it bag #1), then take another dispo bag (bag #2) and put the tip in bag #2.
then put bag #1 IN bag #2.

when i need to change tips, i just take bag #2 out, change the tip, and put it back on again. so less one equipment to wash : coupler. bag #2 is normally clean, so no throwing or washing needed, most of the time.

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sccandwbfan Posted 17 Oct 2013 , 11:27pm
post #22 of 27

I'm curious if anyone has ever found a disposable bag smaller than 12"? I like the ease of the disposable, but when you only need to put a little icing in a bag it seems like a waste to use a 12" bag. :)

 

Christy

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-K8memphis Posted 17 Oct 2013 , 11:31pm
post #23 of 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by sccandwbfan 
 

I'm curious if anyone has ever found a disposable bag smaller than 12"? I like the ease of the disposable, but when you only need to put a little icing in a bag it seems like a waste to use a 12" bag. :)

 

Christy

 

 

parchment ;)

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MBalaska Posted 18 Oct 2013 , 3:07am
post #24 of 27

the nice thing about the parchment triangles, is when you just need a tiny bit of icing for glue or small accents you can cut the triangle in half and you have small parchment bags.

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JennaGee Posted 18 Oct 2013 , 5:33am
post #25 of 27

ACanvas for now, but only because I haven't gotten around to ordering more disposable ones. I prefer ateco over wilton . I would love to work more with parchment, Where can I find precut parchment triangles ? Sometimes my measurements are off and I end up with wonky triangular shapes

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MBalaska Posted 18 Oct 2013 , 6:44am
post #26 of 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by JennaGee 

Canvas for now, but only because I haven't gotten around to ordering more disposable ones. I prefer ateco over wilton . I would love to work more with parchment, Where can I find precut parchment triangles ? Sometimes my measurements are off and I end up with wonky triangular shapes

"CK Products parchment triangles 15"

I've have had the box for ages, don't remember where they came from, but I use them often.

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owatto Posted 18 Oct 2013 , 8:24am
post #27 of 27

I love featherweight bags, and don't mind disposable.

I don't like that with disposable, if your using a thick icing the bag can burst from the pressure.
So I put the icing in a disposable bag and cut off the end (a fair bit, maybe 2 to 3 cm), prepare the featherweight bag with a coupler and tip, then put the disposable bag (that's full of your icing) in the featherweight bag. Then you only have to clean a small amount of the featherweight bag and the tip and can throw the other bag out. 
 

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