Things You Find Tedious And Ways To Overcome Them
Decorating By CakeChemistry Updated 26 Oct 2013 , 4:23pm by milkmaid42

AOk, so one of the things I don't like to do is sieve icing sugar (powdered sugar/confectioners sugar). It gets everywhere. It takes ages. I have to push lumps through the sieve. It makes my arms ache. I just want it to be quick so I can get on with the fun stuff. Dos anyone have any tips? Also post here if you find some stuff tedious that others might be able to help with to make it easier? Alternatively just have a rant!

AThe only thing I ever sift is cocoa. Just haven't had the need to sift powdered sugar or anything else.
What I find tedious and hate doing is mix/scrape, mix/scrape. I HATE scraping the bottom of the bowl... especially when the bowl is on a 60 qt mixer. UGH!

AThe only time I cut corners and didn't sieve I ended up with lumpy frosting. Drives me bloody mad, icinjg dust everywhere! Plus it's boring! I just want to decorate!!!


you could get one of those sieves where you don't shake it, you twist something instead :-)
I'm not sure what it's called but it's like a cylinder and you just turn the handle and it rotates some mechanism inside that sifts the icing sugar/flour/whatever. I can't remember who it is that I watch on Youtube that uses one of those....
anyway sorry enough about that xD
I don't think I find anything tedious as such. I don't like waiting for my butter and eggs to come to room temp because I ALWAYS forget to bring them out of the fridge beforehand.

aha! here it is. would make a lot less mess too, I suspect.

A
Original message sent by BrandisBaked
The only thing I ever sift is cocoa. Just haven't had the need to sift powdered sugar or anything else.
What I find tedious and hate doing is mix/scrape, mix/scrape. I HATE scraping the bottom of the bowl... especially when the bowl is on a 60 qt mixer. UGH!
They make a bowl scrapper attachment for the 60 quart. Wish they did for my little one.

A
Original message sent by DeliciousDesserts
They make a bowl scrapper attachment for the 60 quart. Wish they did for my little one.
$600! Yikes!


I only have 1 kitchenaid and one bowl. Mix, wash the bowl, mix, wash the bowl, mix..........I also hate the sound of my oven timer. I only have a conventional oven and have to bake and bake.

AI love my flex edge beater.
I don't sift either but I suspect they put something in American powdered sugar that probably isn't in British icing sugar which is why we can get away with it.
For me it's getting couplers out of piping bags. So annoying and messy.


AThere is a bit of cornstarch in our powdered sugar to keep it from clumping.

Could you just whirl your powdered sugar in the food processor to break up lumps?
Liz

AI have never used one, but there are also electric and battery powered sifters.

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For me it's getting couplers out of piping bags. So annoying and messy.
OMG, THIS!!! I have THE hardest time getting couples out of piping bags. It's one of those "grin and bear it" kinda things, haha.
I hate stirring ganache. I make a lot of truffles and ganaches and I get SO BORED stirring ganache. I also make my ganache with goat cheese instead of cream (it has an insanely good tangy combo with dark chocolate) but it can be kinda grainy sometimes so I have to stir it sooooo much. I have callouses from stirring ganache. I usually plop down in front of the TV and stir, stir, stir!


A
Original message sent by CONFECTIONERIE
I hate stirring ganache. I make a lot of truffles and ganaches and I get SO BORED stirring ganache. I also make my ganache with goat cheese instead of cream (it has an insanely good tangy combo with dark chocolate) but it can be kinda grainy sometimes so I have to stir it sooooo much. I have callouses from stirring ganache.
Can you put the ganache in your mixer on low? Or maybe an ice cream machine, just don't freeze the bowl.


AOh my, I love this forum, I am now itching to whizz my icing sugar in the kenwood! In terms of using the alternative piping sugar stuff, I didn't even know that existed! And I am buying one of those rotary sifters!!

Hi everyone! Just thought I'd add to the list - cleaning piping bags! hard to get all the grease off, takes several washing. For the tips and couplers I dump them all into a bowl with hot water before soaping. For mixing bowls If I have just used some lemons I would invert the leftover peels and use it to scrub my mixing bowls, takes the grease off and cuts my soaping time in half.

For me it would have to be greasing the tins. I just really don't like it so if my husband is home then he will kindly do it for me.

For me it's filling batter in cupcake cases. I have a storefront and bake hundreds of cupcakes each week and I just hate distributing the batter, it is tedious beyond words. I have tried so many different dispensing methods and was never satisfied with any of them. I finally had to resort to hiring someone...
Regarding piping bags - I only use disposable ones. Cleaning them drives me crazy. I only use the tips without couplers, but when the get stuck in the bag I just hold them under hot running water - the plastic will soften and I can remove the tip easly.

ACutting the parchment rounds & greasing pans. Ugh.

if you turn your piping bags inside out the couplers will peel right out -- not that you'll like doing any better--but...it's easier--
i dread cutting dowel--i dread it every cake i make--dread--i have some shears that make it easier,, gottta miter box-- but i don't like it--it's because it's messy and i hate to have a mess after i get the cakes final iced--i don't think there's any overcoming an idiosyncrasy

AOh k8, I'm with ya on the cutting dowels. Hate that part.
I purchase mine in 1/4" increments but there's usually at least 1 tier that isn't exact so I have to cut.

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Oh k8, I'm with ya on the cutting dowels. Hate that part.
I purchase mine in 1/4" increments but there's usually at least 1 tier that isn't exact so I have to cut.
have you seen those ones with the screw in the top so you can adjust it up or down? they were stupid expensive but a great idea--oh god how lazy am i??
i only bought a couple packs and just kept them in the drawer forever--finally used them last month--was so much fun!!!

If I was rich, I would pay someone to color my royal icing, put it in piping bags, and then wash the bags, bowls AND the tips before switching colors, again and again. I would seriously pay someone to just hand me colored royal icing so all I have to do is decorate.
I'd pay them $12.75 an hour with all the benefits and if they want a room in my house I'd give it to them, too. Hell, they can have my first born male child, as long as I don't have to participate in the hellish nightmare that is switching colors when decorating with royal icing.

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If I was rich, I would pay someone to color my royal icing, put it in piping bags, and then wash the bags, bowls AND the tips before switching colors, again and again. I would seriously pay someone to just hand me colored royal icing so all I have to do is decorate.
I'd pay them $12.75 an hour with all the benefits and if they want a room in my house I'd give it to them, too. Hell, they can have my first born male child, as long as I don't have to participate in the hellish nightmare that is switching colors when decorating with royal icing.
buy more bowls, bags and tips when you can ;)

Love Love LOVE this one! It comes with the battery and it lasts forever. Makes sifting so much easier!
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