Ingredients
- There are three types of bags:
- Today we'll touch on the basics of how to use decorating bags and couplers.
- Decorating bags are simply pastry bags that are filled with icing.
- However, you should not use bags that have been filled with batter as grease can cause your icing to become lumpy and affect the pressure of the flow of icing out through the bag.
- Featherweight, Disposable, and Parchment.
- Featherweight Bags are lightweight, and created from strong, washable polyester. These bags can be used over and over again.
- These bags can also be used with or without a coupler. To use without a coupler, cut about 3/4 in. off tip of Disposable Bag (Featherweight Bag is ready to use).
- Simply drop the decorating tip you want into the bag with the narrow end of the tip down.
Preparation
Step 1
A new Featherweight bag will have to be trimmed with scissors to accommodate the coupler base. First, twist the ring off the coupler base.
Drop the coupler base, narrow end first, into the bag and push as far down as you can.
With a pen or pencil, mark the spot on the outside where the bottom thread is outlined against the bag material.
Push the coupler back up into the bag, and cut across where you have made the mark. Push the coupler base back down through the bag opening.
One thread should be showing. Choose the decorating tip you want to use and slip it onto the coupler base. Now twist the coupler ring over the tip, locking it in place.
Changing decorating tips is easy: twist off the ring, replace with a new tip, then screw the ring back on.
Disposable Bags are made of clear plasticup You simply throw them away when you are done.
Parchment Bags are made from envelopes created by parchment paper triangles.
Generally, you'll use parchment bags to make decorative highlights with small amounts of icing, then discard each bag when it's empty.
To see them all, click on the link, and search the term "Decorating Bag": http://tinyurl.com/c93m4
The coupler is a two-part device that screws on to the icing bag. This allows you to change the decorating tip without changing the bag.
The two parts of the coupler are the base and the ring. The base fits inside the bag, and then you put the decorating tip of your choice over the portion of the coupler that sticks out of the bag.
When you screw the ring on, you've locked the decorating tip onto the coupler and bag.
To change decorating tips, unscrew ring, replace decorating tip and screw ring back on.