I've been using disposable plastic bags for their ease of use and cleaning (just toss and get a new one next time, ). But it's getting pretty pricey, especially with all the practicing I've been doing, so I've been wondering if I'd be better off using parchment triangles.

Which type of bag do you feel is best? And if you do recommend parchment, can you use couplers with parchment?

Thanks in advance for your help.

I hate to tell you, but I completely prefer the disposable to any other! I have used parchment, but you have to make the bags, and I feel that they are not as sturdy as plastic. I know the plastic are pricey, but I feel its worth it for the convience, and less mess to clean up!!

I use the disposable ones, but I'm not a very good reference...I've never tried the others.

I just bought the parchment ones for the first time. After putting the first few together, IMO they go faster than the pastic ones, and much cheaper too..

beebug -- go faster as in 'easier to work with' or you went through what you had a lot faster than if you'd been using plastic?

Good question edcjenv. Beebug, do you use couplers with the parchment?

Yes you can use a coupler. I like them both. I have never used Wilton's Parchment paper but I sheets of parchment form The restaurant supply place and i made My bags that way. I can make them As big or small as i want. The disposable bags I actually wash them and reuse them

Glad to hear that I'm not the only one that washes and reuse. I use the featherweight and the decorator pro. they are all good to me.

featherweight

don't get the vinal ones, they get stiffer and stiffer and are just awful.

I almost always use parchment bags and yes, you can use couplers with them. I just find they are much cheaper than using the plastic disposable bags. The last time I bought the disposable bags, every other one developed a hole in it when I was using it, in the seam, and I would end up with a big glob of icing dropping down somewhere.

i would say the reusable ones. if you don't like cleaning them just soak them with your tips in hot soapy water over night for a couple of nights and all you do is rinse and let dry. i've never washed a tip or bag since.

I use featherweight bags for piping bigger volumes of icing...shells, stars, etc. I like the way they feel. They're more comfortable in the hand when you're doing work for a longer period of time.

I use parchment for writing, bct, and smaller volumes of colored piping. Parchment is good too because for writing and small round tip work, you don't even need a tip! Plastic bags can't be used this way (in my opinion), because the icing comes out in a flat shape because of the seam.

I used to use the plastic all the time for convenience, but like the others I stopped buying them because of the expense. Now I have been building up my supply of 10" featherweight bags. (I have 4 but I think I want 2 more!) That way you won't need to wash bags in the middle of a project.

When you get used to using the parchment, you don't even notice the time it takes to assemble the bag. It's like second nature...You can get the premade 15" triangles or better yet get a big roll for best value. When you're bored you can cut up a bunch of triangles.

Oops, I meant you can assemble them faster than the plastic ones. Wrap them up, tack on a small bit of tape to the outside and you're ready to go. You don't need to put a coupler in, and if you are just writing you don't even have to put the tip in. They are so cheap I don't feel bad tossing them and I suppose are a bit better for the enviornment since they are made of paper.

Thanks for the quick responses. I'm running to Wal-Mart today and bags are on my list. I'm going to give the parchment triangles a try.

Isn't washing the disposible plastic bags defeating the purpose? lol. Mine don't last that long. When I'm finished with the bag, I cut the end off to get the tip out, squeeze as much excess frosting as I can into a tupperware container to use for practice, and my kids suck whatever frosting is left out before throwing the bag away. Personally, the thought grosses me out, but whatever makes them happy. They love to compare the colors their tongues turn from the icing.

I'm suprised that more people don't use the featherweight bags! That is mostly what I use... I am a very frugal person. Although I have to admit I HATE washing them! I keep a supply of parchment triangles too, if I am feeling lazy and don't want to have to dirty all my bags.

I definitely prefer the feel and ease of the featherweight bags though. The parchment are ok if you're just using a small amount of icing, but I find them a pain to refill. I usually don't use a coupler in them, it just depends what all I need that color of icing for.

Melissa

I like the featherweight bags if i'm going to be using a lot of a certain color. I find that the parchment triangles are so hard to refill! I have always used couplers with the parchment paper, and i've had no problems with them--just make sure you dont cut the hole too big! I have a 16" featherweight bag just for icing my cakes with, that way I don't have to keep filling the bag as much.
I've never used the disposable bags, no real reason why, just never felt that i needed them.

The only downside that i have found with the featherweight bags is if you're making a buttercream with a lot of crisco, the bags still have a light film of grease on them after i wash them.

I agree with Melissablack, I MUCH prefer the feel of the featherweights. My hands don't get as tired when I use the featherweights as opposed to when I use the disposables. I don't mess with washing them by hand, I turn them inside out, rinse them briefly in hot water, and pop them in the DISHWASHER!!! Works like a charm!

I use the featherweight bags for icing the cake and borders but that is it. Plus they remind me when I was little and my mother had all those stiff icing bags..........just didn't like the way they looked or felt.

I was a HUGE fan of the plastic throw away bags until my husband starting pointing out how much money I was putting into the throw away bags. Recently started using the parchment triangles and love them! They fit into my hand better and you can just throw away. I use a coupler in them and have not had a problem yet.

My Wilton Class instructor said that if you have a problem with your disposal bags to write or email to wilton and they will give you a refund because they have recently issued a bad batch of bags.

bj

I use the featherweight bags for everything unless I only need a small amount of icing for a certain color, or outline. Then I will use a disposable bag. I would prefer to throw away a disposable rather than wash the featherweight for a small job .

I prefer the feather wight bags. I will use disposable bags for small things. I hate hate hate hate parchment!!!!!! I can never seem to make them work for me. They bust, pop, you name it its happened to me with parchment MC

I've never busted a parchment bag. Maybe you overfill??? That's easy to do. I always use parchment! I use featherweight with the icer tip, and for big borders and decorations. The icing always seems to get too soft in the disposable bags. I'm just not a fan of those.

It never fails the parchment always bust right where the cuppler and tip go. Thats the first place they bust. Then it goes up the seems. Parchment = then =
MC

I prefer the parchment also. My instructor gave us a few tips of what she did. Instead of taping it, you can put 2 small tears on the part you fold over, then just bend that little bit(between the tears) over. Then it won't come apart. Hope that's not too confusing. Also with the couplers. After you get your bag together, put the coupler inside the bag, then twist the ring on it, tear off the excess paper. Then just take ring off and put your tip and ring back on. Hope this helps

Which type of bag do you use for color flow? The recipe that came with the color flow says to use parchment bags. Is there any reason you couldn't use disposable?

I use featherweight bags for most evrything. I use parchment for the small things. I don't use the Wilton triangles though. I just cut some from my roll of parchment paper whatever size I need. Idon't like the disposables because in the early years every one I tried to use split. Kristy I never get a film of greaseon mine. I turn the bags inside out and squirt a little Dawn right on the bag, massage it around and then rinse in hot water. Doing it this way I don't have separate bags for royal icing and have never had a problem.

I'm a plastic disposible girl for the most part. They are just easier and quicker to me. Both in preping them and in clean up. I do try to buy the 100 box of Wilton's at Michaels with the 40% off coupons. Or when Hobby Lobby has their 50% off Wilton stuff sales. It is one of those things that you can stock up on with out worrying about them going bad.

That said, I do use parchment bags occasionally when I have a small amount of icing that I need to use and don't want to use a whole plastic bag for.

I have had students that have liked all the bags for various reasons, so I think only you can tell you which one is really the best for you. Buy some parchment and try them out. You may find you like them more, and you may find that you don't. Either way, atleast then you know what works for you.

And yes you can use couplers with parchment bags.

I just learned how to properly make, fold and fill a parchment cone. I always used the methods in the book, like Toba Garrett teaches, etc. My bags would never last. So my instructor, who comes from 20 years of teaching and owns a bakery showed us how to properly make them. I used one bag through the entire class and we filled that thing numerous times, never a problem.

I was tired of buying the plastic throw-aways (not to mention the environment) and cleaning the professional bags. So, I would suggest finding someone in the bakery business or take a class if you have not done so to properly make one that lasts. I will be using parchment from here on out.