Any Suggestions On Keeping Spatula Warm When Smoothing Bc?
Decorating By jemme Updated 31 Mar 2007 , 1:42pm by tiptop57
i decided to play around tonight and practise some techniques i have read on here. I tried the warm spatula trick and it worked wonderful!! the only problem I had is keeping the spatula warm in order to finish the cake, so i had to keep going back into my kitchen, cleaning off the spatula and reheating it (i just turned on the burner on the stove and laid it on till it got hot)
Perhaps I am just moving too slow?
You can have a glass of very hot water next to you ask you work. Dip the spatula, wipe dry on a paper towel and smooth, repeat as you go. Or, hold the spatula over the burner till warm and do the same thing, wipe on a towel after every swipe to keet the icing smooth.
But I use a wallpaper or chocolate scraper and it works very well for smoothing, I just run it under a hot water tap and wipe dry.
I too, use a glass of hot water. I put it in the microwave until it boils. Dip the spatula and wipe off after taking it out of the water each time. Works like a charm.
Tiptop's top tip:
I use the hot water trick also with a large themo cup. The entire spatula blade fits in it. But here is the tip, 
I use two spatulas. Pick up one warm spatula wipe off water, smooth then wipe frosting and put into cup and grab the other warm one.
I have given myself permission to buy two of everything I use a lot. I hate when I have to stop in the middle of a design to clean a tip to use with another color.......
I use a thermos that I've poured boiling water in. I set my spatulas in them and they stay nice and hot. I tend to favor one of my spatula's and with only one I dip the spatula in, wipe with a paper towel to get the excess water off and I'm good to go again since the water stays so hot.
I also use the "glass of hot water" method! LOL
But I am eager try some of the other ideas you all suggested.
I was having a tour of a bakery once and they used a container of hot water set on a hot plate to keep it hot. I thought that was a great idea!
Ok now don't laugh.....but I use a griddle set on low. I leave the statula on it between smoothing swipes and wipe it down to remove excess icing but it works like a charm, stays warmer longer and you don't have to wipe water each time.
I too use a large, tall insulated cup. Boil the water, pour it in cup and you're set to go.
The idea of using a griddle sounds good too. I have a few warming trays and think I will try one of those next time.
Don't you just love CAKE CENTRAL for all the great advice you get!!!!!!
Hi,
you don't need hot water to smooth buttercream icing. Don't think I am crazy, but I gave up on the spatula hot water method years and years and years ago.. This is much quicker and better results.
Get yourself a new clean spray bottle (like you have for window cleaner etc) Fill it with regular or bottled water your choice and then when your ready to smooth your frosting simply spray away.. until the top/side what ever your working on is wet... yes wet.. you will find that your spatula will simply glide along.. smooth and nice.. you can get cakes that look like there fondant! on the top.. you can use the same method and we use a window squeege.. or a trowel type tool that covers more area.
The seceret is to keep the frosting wet.. which is what your doing with the hot water.. the hot water sometimes takes frosting off .. this wont.. it will simply smooth it.. We just simply spin our turntables and go.. smooth in a single motion. effortless. In fact I just bought a battery powered sprayer top at walmart for my spraybottle.. simply push a button and go. no pumping.
any puddles that gather around the base of the cake can simply be dabbed up with a paper towel.
Try this.. I think you will save yourself lots of time Just do not use it on whipped icing, or fondants.
Ever make roses on marshmallows & toothpicks? Thats another one of our bakery's tips. Just let me know if you want instructions for easy beautiful roses without the hassel of a rose nail!!
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%