6 steps for using the piping bag like a pro

With the festivals almost knocking on your doorstep, are you headed to the kitchen to make the sweetest desserts and return gifts for your family and loved ones? From tarts to cakes to pastries, none are complete without the sweet puree filling inside or vibrant creamy decoration outside. But to do that, you have to master the use of a piping bag. Here’s how you can start becoming an expert in using the piping bag in just six steps. 

6 steps to start using piping bags like an expert

If you are new to the world of piping bags, then keep these six steps in mind that will make you a pro. But remember, you need a little bit of practice to turn first steps into perfection.

Choose the right piping bag

First, take a moment to decide what the ultimate purpose of the piping bag will serve. If you are looking to make intricate detailing on larger cakes, then you would need a small piping bag, and if you are using a piping bag to make fillings, then a larger one will do the trick. Moreover, the nozzle is where the magic happens, so choose the right nozzle. In fact, it is always recommended that you keep a set of nozzles handy, which makes it easier for you to switch anytime you want. 

Prep the bag

Even before you start filling the piping bag, you will have to prepare it. Cut the bag’s tip for the nozzle to fit in perfectly. Twist it slightly so that the filling does not leak out from the bag.

A mess-free bag-fill

Use a glass here for support while filling the bag. Keep the bag inverted on top of the glass and use a spoon to fill it. Ideally, filling it half to two-thirds would be enough. Never fill a piping bag to the brim. Remove the bag from the glass. Hold it tightly and twist the end shut.

Get the right grip

When you are working with the piping bag, always hold it with your dominant hand and use it to apply slight pressure as needed. The non-dominant hand would be used to guide the nozzle and steady the tip. 

Practice is the Key

If this is your first time working with a piping bag, never start directly on your food surface. Always do a pre-test on parchment paper. In fact, even if it is not your first go with the piping bag, this must be a practice to see that the pressure, tip, and output remain consistent. This is done so that the actual design of the food is done with precision and without any mess. 

Clean the bag

While disposable piping bags are very common nowadays, and people use the same, especially if one has to use two or three colours, in the same food item, if you have a single piping bag, then cleaning it is mandatory between using two or three colours and fillings. All you need to do is remove the nozzle, clean it well, and dry it off completely before using it again with a different colour filling. 

For more updates, join/follow our WhatsApp, Telegram and YouTube channels.