So, do I use them again?

Not everyone is doing it. It's usually just the bigger boards. I think they feel that they will probably never make cakes that big themselves but they don't want to throw them out either.

It's good in a way because I've actually forgotten to charge for them a few times (beginner ).

I haven't re-used one yet, because I just don't know if it's a good thing to do.

I don't know where they've been sitting, what they've been washed with (if at all), I don't know if they've been sitting in a sink full of dirty dishes all day......you get it.


They're the type that you get all pre-covered with foil, very solid but with a porous paper type covering underneath.

I don't know which materials are safe to use to make my own.

TIA

Personally, I wouldn't use them again. I guess some people would give them a good sanitizing and figure it would be okay, but since there's no way to know where they've been and how they've been stored, I wouldn't use them.

If it was something that could go through the dishwasher and be cleaned with a sanitizer, that's different. For cardboard and wood, not so much.

if they're made to be disposables, then dispose of them. The cost is minimal.

Thanks costumeczar and indydebi.

I didn't think it would be a good idea, but I didn't want to be silly and toss them if I didn't have to.

i wouldn;t reuse them for a customer, but if you need to make any display cakes they would be ok to use for that.

I agree with Sweetcakes. Or if you ever do a free cake for friends or family, that might also be acceptable.

The only boards I have re-used where my wooden ones I built for monster trucks. The cake does'nt touch the wood it sits on a seperate dispoable cake board, and they cost about 20$ to make . Other then that I throw the other ones out, they only cost about 3-4$ dollars to make. I use foam board and foil to make them.

I work in banquets and the wedding cake vendors usually want their boards back for re-use (I know cuz I'm always trying to snag them for personal use). Some even want the wooden dowels back, SPS I would understand, but dowels?
Usually they are MDF boards, but sometimes even foam core. I assume they just recover and reuse. So this is a big no-no for them?

the only things I save are the plastic plates and dowels and wooden boards.....all else is disposable.

I don't know why its a big deal either way....aren't those boards completely covered with something? Remember you have to save the planet people hehehe

[quote="indydebiHeck I even consider the plastic as disposable, [/quote]


Shame, shame, throwing away plastic....you better watch out for the recycle nazis

Just kidding, I do the same. Most of this stuff is inexpensive and you can just add to the price for supplies.

I am so grosssed out by the fact that ANYONE would reuse wooden dowels! Ewwwwww! I have used wooden cake boards for really big cakes. An 18x18 cost me .50 at Home Depot. I think I am able to let that go as well.

We do get them back and recover and reuse them. When they get too beat up, we toss them.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

If I could get mine for 50c each I would have had no second thoughts about throwing them out.

But as my closest supply shop is about two hours away (and the only size they had last time I went was about 4in), I order mine over the net.

I have ordered the largest size on two separate occasions. They cost about $20 each and then it's $10 for postage. That's why I was balking at throwing them away.

Make your own out of foam core or wood (masonite/plywood/mdf). I'm sure compared to what your paying it would be a much cheaper alternative.

If they're what we call cake drums in the UK - covered with silver paper - then you can re-use them.... but you need to recover them first.

It's not expensive to buy the paper.

why is that gross? do you think someone licked them hahaha....I am pretty persnickity and I must confess, I do not get the gross.....explain here....

LBF - where in home depot do you get the 18x18 board for .50? I would like to get some of those.

I have had clients bring back the bubble tea straws - it doesn't "gross" me out, I just toss them.

I get the 'gross' part of it, especially knowing that some people are not as uptight about animals on counters or setting food items on floors. But I am also very uptight about the planet and unnecessary waste.

A thought I've had about recycling is to offer customers the opportunity to provide a cake board or plate for a discount. I realize most customers won't have anything so I've also thought about investing in some decent reusable cake board materials (heavy plastic or glass tha can be sanitized) that I can offer a discount on also. The discount being applied in the same way a 'deposit' would be applied.

I ususally use freezer paper and the tape designed to use with it to cover cardboard or wooden cake boards. It's white, doesn't stain, doesn't 'leak' through to the board because it's wax covered and it's fairly cheap. I was desperate for something to cover a cake board and happened to see it during my grocery shopping. I've been using it for probably two years now. I'm sure I'm not the first one with this idea but I think it works great.

I dont' find it 'gross' as much as I find it ridiculous that people think a piece of wood that costs less than a penny would be returnable. And I'm not so talented that every one of my cakes comes out the exact same height so I'd have to cut dowels specifically for each cake.

Some folks spend a dollar to save a nickel. Drives me nuts.

Takes more than that to gross me out I guess......retired nurse.....I know people can be dirty though so you have a good point....I have to agree with Indy on this one

Are we talking card board? $20??? Geez!!! I would totally strip off the old and put on new, and reuse. What is the big deal? I make my own, and never did a 20" but do 18"s all the time and I use real boards and they are returnable. For smaller I stack 3 to 5 of them and glue them together them wrap. If someone brings it back, then I guess I would use it! As long as it is not ripped. If it were ripped, you could just glue one more down on top and rewrap. It is not edible and the cake doesn't touch it.

$20 for a board? Good Lord, no wonder you didn't want to throw it away! I use cardboard ones, and the most expensive they get is about $4-5 each. What are the $20 ones made out of?

i use cardboard even if I have to double to make a thicker board. I never want them back. I did get some back from a wedding cake about a month after the wedding. THEY WERE STILL DIRTY!ewwww the dowle rods and pillars and cardboard all together in a plastic bag.
I kindly thanked them and when they left to the dumpster they went.