Elephant Skin

Decorating By michelle0108 Updated 26 Apr 2011 , 9:20pm by SSGirly

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michelle0108 Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 8:43pm
post #1 of 20

I'm having problem with my Satin Ice developing elephant skin. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I don't use anything to dust with (corn starch or icing), and only use shortening. I knead it very well, roll it out, and cover the cake immediately so it won't dry out. I've tried massaging shortening into the affected area but it doesn't help. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

19 replies
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miss_sweetstory Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 8:56pm
post #2 of 20

Michelle,
Is it ALL your SI, or is it the current batch or color that you are using? Have you tried other brands.

Elephant skin can come from the fondant being old, a bad batch, taking too long to work with it, etc.

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cakegirl1973 Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 9:06pm
post #3 of 20

It could be the SI. I used SI for the last time last week when it kept tearing. Now, I have used SI for a while and this was the first time I had ever had a problem with it, but I am nervous to use it again, in light of the numerous problems that were reported with the brand this past summer and fall. It appears to me that they may not have completely solved the problem.

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cakegirl1973 Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 9:20pm
post #5 of 20

Thanks so much, TexasSugar!

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KristyCakes Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 9:39pm
post #6 of 20

I find that I get this elephant skin when I have to add a lot of color and end up mixing a lot.

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teenycakes Posted 25 Feb 2011 , 5:43pm
post #7 of 20

I ordered a large bucket of SI and the fondant was just awful. I had the exact same problem with elephant skin, tearing, etc. I won't purchase again. I tried on several different cakes to get it to work and it was terrible. I too didn't add anything to it other than a small amount of shortening. I was really disappointed too. I've used other premade fondant and homemade fondant that performed lovely, but heard such rave reviews about the SI. I'm still not sure what went wrong. Good Luck.

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countrycaker Posted 25 Feb 2011 , 5:59pm
post #8 of 20

Oh hello. I just asked the question yesterday on another thread as to whether Satin Ice has resolved their production problems yet. I guess this answers that question for me. Think I'll try a different brand.

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teenycakes Posted 25 Feb 2011 , 6:18pm
post #9 of 20

Hi CountryCaker,

It looks like a lot of others have had wonderful success with SI. Maybe I just received a bad batch. I have used their chocolate fondant with good success. I don't really know why I had problems, because I'm very used to covering cakes with fondant. I could tell it wasn't right when I was rolling it. It's like it just would stay together. I need to read all of the other posts, maybe there's a special technique.

Good Luck icon_smile.gif

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ashleyb4 Posted 26 Feb 2011 , 12:45pm
post #10 of 20

I'm having problems with it too. Just bought a 5lb bucket at the store, rolled like normal, draped over cake and started to smooth... Instant tears and elephant skin. It was awful. I had to rip it off and redo it twice. I normally use Fondarific, but the store was out of it. Lesson learned!!

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kc03 Posted 26 Feb 2011 , 12:53pm
post #11 of 20

I had a friend of mine tell me to mix white with what ever color I was using. I was having a hard time too. Once I started to mix the white with it I didn't have a problem any more.

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Coral3 Posted 1 Mar 2011 , 11:11pm
post #12 of 20

Perhaps you're kneading it a bit too well?

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Piece_acake Posted 1 Mar 2011 , 11:21pm
post #13 of 20

I find that if I put the SI in the microwave for any length of time or knead too much/too much shortening, it causes it to separate and look like elephant skin.

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Kitagrl Posted 1 Mar 2011 , 11:39pm
post #14 of 20

Use FondX. icon_smile.gif

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michelle0108 Posted 4 Mar 2011 , 3:34pm
post #15 of 20

Thanks everyone. Now, that you mention it, I do use a lot of color, and maybe that's when it wrinkles...

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cowie Posted 5 Mar 2011 , 2:38pm
post #16 of 20

I was using fondant last night and had to make it a dark brown color. By the time I got the color I wanted I think I finally figured out what elephant skin was lol. So I think I got it from over mixing it.

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cabecakes Posted 13 Mar 2011 , 8:18pm
post #17 of 20

I don't like fondant, I think it tastes nasty. I make my own marshmallow fondant. It tastes better, and I seldom have any problems with it. I even freeze my marshmallow fondant. When I need it, I just pop it in the microwave for a few seconds and knead it. The only issues I have with Marshmallow Fondant is when I haven't let it rest overnight. This is a must. Fondant is also very expensive, you can make a batch of MMF for next to nothing. Here...$2.00 for powdered sugar and $1.00 for marshmallows throw in some vanilla. No biggie.

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dixiedarlin79 Posted 20 Mar 2011 , 8:07am
post #18 of 20
Quote:
Originally Posted by cabecakes

I don't like fondant, I think it tastes nasty. I make my own marshmallow fondant. It tastes better, and I seldom have any problems with it. I even freeze my marshmallow fondant. When I need it, I just pop it in the microwave for a few seconds and knead it. The only issues I have with Marshmallow Fondant is when I haven't let it rest overnight. This is a must. Fondant is also very expensive, you can make a batch of MMF for next to nothing. Here...$2.00 for powdered sugar and $1.00 for marshmallows throw in some vanilla. No biggie.




I made my first batch of MMF last night and colored it. When I went to use it today, it had the ugly elephant skin. My colors weren't dark but maybe that is still why it developed. It was my first try so who knows! I popped it in the microwave and worked in some Crisco and it got better. I didn't cover a cake though..just made cutouts and figures.

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cake_architect Posted 20 Mar 2011 , 6:46pm
post #19 of 20

i've had mixed results with SI and i hate it bc its always a guess when i'm working on a cake! i've found its very tempermental to weather (cool, dry weather works best for me but i live in south texas ans thats soooooo rare lol). my mmf always comes out perfect, i just need to learn to stop buying SI and take the time to make my own since its so dependable icon_biggrin.gif

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SSGirly Posted 26 Apr 2011 , 9:20pm
post #20 of 20

i used it this week and vowed never again. I had problems a while back and called the company and they recognized that it was their fault. They send me out a replacement tub that was fine. This week it was a new batch with the same old problems. I won't be purchasing it again. EVER.

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