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how to store gumpaste flowers in humid weather

post #1 of 9
7/5/12 at 9:18am
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I need to stock pile some roses and orchids for upcoming cakes. I would like to make them now and use them within a month, but my house is not air conditioned and the heat and humidity is terrible. When I made roses for my last cake, they were dry and nicely set, but then wilted a few days later on a very humid day.Luckily, I was able to save them by resupporting the petals and they firmed up again before I needed to assemble the cake. What is the best way to store premade gumpaste flowers so that they won't be affected by the weather? Thanks in advance!
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post #2 of 9
7/5/12 at 1:51pm
I'm having exactly the same problem, the weather here is unusually atrocious at the moment, rainy, humid you name it, it's not normally like this so I've never had a storage issue before. Absolutely typical that we are having such odd weather while I'm trying to get a head start on some roses and orchids for my friends wedding cupcakes at the end of the month. If you find out a good tip I'd be interested to know, I'll be thread stalking this one!!

Sorry I couldn't help, but I do sympathise icon_smile.gif
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post #3 of 9
7/5/12 at 3:02pm
I use closet hippos , and pop them into styrofoam boxes.

Sometimes that is the only way I can get my flowers dry when it is raining and humid.
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post #4 of 9
7/5/12 at 4:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chellescakes

I use closet hippos , and pop them into styrofoam boxes.

Sometimes that is the only way I can get my flowers dry when it is raining and humid.



I am having the same problem, but I am not familiar with "closet hippos". icon_redface.gif
Could I ask what that would be?
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post #5 of 9
7/6/12 at 1:31am
They are moisture absorbers , they usually are two part crystals in the top , and the water collects in the bottom.
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post #6 of 9
7/6/12 at 6:08am
Gum paste re-hydrates and droops readily here, too icon_cry.gif . I use a food dehydrator to help get my pieces totally dry and then store them in airtight boxes with a small container of Damp-Rid placed in the box. Damp Rid absorbs moisture and is available at big box home improvement centers, department stores or hardware stores. Be sure that no gum paste comes in contact with the Damp-Rid. I have managed to save pieces for over two years stored this way.
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post #7 of 9
7/7/12 at 7:37pm
Hi Everyone, I am in Australia in the subtropics. Many of us use a cupboard in which is filtted a light bulb to dry and keep flowers and this is quite effective.
I am most interested in the answer of using a dehydrator as I was looking at them on Thursday. My husband thought they would be to hot. However I put the oven on with an oven thermometer in it and brought it up to 45 degrees centigrade and will experiment with this temp for initially drying the flowers. The food dehydrator had a temperature of 45 degrees centigrade so probably would be Ok. Can you tell me the temperature you use with the food dehydrator. Cheers Trottie
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post #8 of 9
7/7/12 at 10:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trottie

Hi Everyone, I am in Australia in the subtropics. Many of us use a cupboard in which is filtted a light bulb to dry and keep flowers and this is quite effective.
I am most interested in the answer of using a dehydrator as I was looking at them on Thursday. My husband thought they would be to hot. However I put the oven on with an oven thermometer in it and brought it up to 45 degrees centigrade and will experiment with this temp for initially drying the flowers. The food dehydrator had a temperature of 45 degrees centigrade so probably would be Ok. Can you tell me the temperature you use with the food dehydrator. Cheers Trottie



Wow do you know this is the same thing done here in the tropics. A cupboard with a light bulb! I 1st learned about it from a cake decorating teacher. Was most amazed at her neat set-up and flowers in her cupboard for a month before the wedding cake date and they last! I too am interested in this food dehydrator. New technique. Always learning here.
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post #9 of 9
7/8/12 at 9:30am
Use a container with a tight-fitting lid. Put a layer of rice in the bottom and cover it with waxed paper. Place your gumpaste pieces on top and put on the lid. The rice will absorb any moisture and you don't have to worry about chemicals. If your gumpaste comes in contact with the rice, just brush it off. You'll need to check it about once a week to see if you need to replace the rice. You can also put rice in your salt shakers to keep the salt from turning into a rock. icon_biggrin.gif
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