I too use the Sam's club buttercream when I'm pressed for time and cant make a batch from scratch and I have no problems with it crusting. I also use it for my fbct's when I can. I use it straight from the bucket I dont add anything to it outside of food coloring.

All the feedback/ideas is/are awesome...thanks!!

I've bought the colored buttercream several times! I dont know what I'd do if they didnt sell me the red and black! I cant make that stuff to save my life I dont know where in TX you are, but if you're in/near Houston the one off of Hwy 6 and 90 in Sugar Land will sell it to you.

I have such a hard time opening the lid on Sam's But R Cream bucket. Does anyone use a tool or can you explain it to me? It takes about 10 minutes for me to loosen the lid and am exhausted before I even start decorating.

I just saw my sam's sells the But-R-Creme right by the bakery on the shelves, white and colored. I was thinking about trying it, but I don't make enough cakes.

Do you mean chocolate or colored frosting? I have only seen the white and chocolate at my Sam's.

http://www.homegrownharvest.com/bucketopener.html

Here it is, except mine does'nt have the hammer on the other side, man I'm gonna have to get this one, that way so I can free up some space and not have the rubber mallet crowding my drawer!

It works like a charm though and saves the fingers!

To be able to sell buckets of colored icing all (they) SAM's bakery needs is the PLU#or item number#. The numbers are standard thoughout the company. There might be slight variation by regions but that I remeber they are all the same. PLU# is used to print a label in the bakery dept. Item# is used to look it up at the register.
I have bought both red and black for the same reasons.......color. I hate mixing those two colors.

The PLU# for red is 21359 & the item# 723772
The PLU# for black is 21369 & the item# 723842

All SAM's all supposed to sell what is called "Case Sell". If they refuse, you should speak to a memeber of management. They are supposed to keep enough stock to be able to sell to small businesses. If they (management included) tell you they don't do that, you need to call/contact their corporate offices. They are in business for businesses!
Sam's Club
Member Services
608 S.W. Eighth St.
Bentonville, AR 72716
888-746-7726

HTH!

I will see if Home Depot sells the tool, otherwise I am definitely buying the one from the link you sent. Thank you. I wonder if everyone else has the same problem of opening the lid.

I haven't used it for years, but it was always the easiest to smooth. I used a warm spackle knife (hardware store in the paint section) and hot water. I also have a really good turntable.

The above knife was the least expensive, because they are the most flexible. Keeping it warm is having a hot bowl of water and paper towels near by.

I also did the viva method with it. I was never ecstatic with the results.

I don't ever remember it crusting properly for either way of getting it done.

San Antonio, the only store that would sell it to me was at Bitters and 281. Costco, told me to politely get lost.

My friends and family liked it better than straight homemade buttercream, wasn't as sweet.

Piping stiff consistency, I went back to the W classroom icing. It was always a little soft. Which if you look at the flowers Sam's and Costco do on their cakes, they don't have crisp edges. Always a little soft looking and I'm not talking the W Victorian rose.