Satin Ice...soft Compared To Mmf? Help!
Decorating By springlakecake Updated 5 Jul 2007 , 6:47pm by springlakecake
I finally purchased some satin ice! Yea! I have been making mmf fondant for a year now and have done pretty well with it. But I thought I would save myself some hassle and try satin ice. Anyway I am just playing with it and it seems a lot softer than mmf. It is very humid in my home today though. It rolls out really well, but I feel like I cant pick it up with out it distorting and stretching. Is this normal, do I just need to get used to it? Should I let it sit out for awhile to stiffen up a bit before moving it? Or is it just too humid in my house? thanks!
okay thanks. I usually just pick my fondant up to place on the cake, should I not do this anymore with the satin ice? Too soft for that?
I find Satinice softer than mmf, but welcome to the world of premade fondant!!! Once I tried satinice I have not covered a cake in mmf again! I don't like the inconsistent nature of making mmf - too dry - to moist - all the kneading is horrible on my wrists!!!
I have few and far between problems with it, however, I hate humidity!!!! It ruins everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hurry up fall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You could try adding some Tylose to the fondant. Start with small amounts, let it rest, and then see if the consistency is what you want.
Good luck. I can't use Satin Ice because my hands are so warm that they melt it. I make my own for this and many other reasons.
Michele
okay thanks. I usually just pick my fondant up to place on the cake, should I not do this anymore with the satin ice? Too soft for that?
if you watch many of the pros --
they either do as I suggested -- leave on mat and flip over
or
as weirkd suggested -- roll on pin and then unroll over the cake.
i've tried both -- and I can do the mat flip easier.
you'll have to try both to see which works for you.
----
having done both MMF and SatinIce -- SatinIce takes some getting use to but is very smooth, consistent.
MMF, because you can make it stiffer to start is great if in a rush and don't have lots time to wait for detail work items to stiffen
I haven't had much experience with completely covering a cake with fondant, but have used it a fair amount for modeling figures and accents. I started out using the MMF and decided about 6 months ago to try the Satin Ice. I've been using Satin Ice ever since. I actually think the Satin Ice is a little easier to work with. Humidity could be a big part of your problem today. You might want to try the Satin Ice again on a day when the air is cooler and drier and see if it works any better for you. Good luck with your project!
You can still pick it up like you would with the MMF if it wasnt humid and also depending on the size of your cake. But Ive always did the rolling pin method using fondant and when I make pie crust. Its just easier to handle that way. But make sure you dust some conf. sugar on it beforehand or it will stick to itself and defeat the purpose! Also, Dougs method works well too.
While adding Tylose to fondant may make it somewhat easier to handle (and commercial fondants usually have some sort of gum in them already for this reason, ) the addition does involve a trade-off in taste. None of the gums, whether Tylose, gum tragacanth, CMC, or gumtex is quite tasteless. If you decide to go this route, I suggest you taste before you make a final decision.
Reading Lindy Smith's books, I am under the impression that adding gum to your fondant makes it a form of modeling paste. Though excellent for decorations, you may not like using enough for covering the whole cake.
I hasten to add, this is just how it works for me. Your mileage may differ. We all have our own ways of doing things...... I use a lot of Tylose and gum trag, but always the least I can.
Picking up the fondant has always worked for me, but like I said my mmf is sort of stiff. I think the softer fondant will be nicer and softer to eat probably. I used to flip the mat over, but sometimes I would find imperfections on the fondant (now the rightside up) so I stopped doing it. Maybe I will need to invest in the large rolling as I do not have one.
So you can roll the fondant up on itself over the rolling pin if you have dusted it? I know I would worry about it sticking to itself.
I guess I need to practice a little before my first upcoming wedding in two weeks. Yikes. This was the reason for me picking satin ice. I thought it would save me some time and be nicer for me and them. Well at least I can always do mmf if I have to!
I add some Wilton Fondant to my Satin Ice if the SI is too soft--it results in a product that tastes AND works great. I find that about 1/3 Wilton to 2/3 SI is a good ratio so that you get the best of both worlds.
HTH
Rae
Thanks everyone. I am going to cover a small cake today with it as practice for the wedding. I will try all of your suggestions.
Wilton has the large rolling pin, does anyone know if that is worth it if it is 40% off? I dont want to waste my money. I usually just use my regular rolling pin and if I am going to start picking up fondant with a pin, I dont think that will work.
A piece of pvc pipe would work great as your rolling pin. And MUCH MUCH cheaper. Just go to the hardware store and see if they could sell you a piece (they might even just give it to ya, can't get any better than that) that is 16-18" long. If ya don't want the skinny size just see if they have the bigger sizes. Make sure it's the white ones n not the black ones though.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%