Pastry Piping Tips - Metal or Plastic?

[Seitan]

So I'm going to buy a pastry bag and some tips for it. Not sure whether to get metal or plastic tips. I know the metal tips bend out of shape easier and tend to rust over time if you don't fully dry them. Not sure what the downside to plastic is, other than they might break more easily.

What are your experiences?

[I used to know how to cook...]

Michael's here only carries the small Wiltons. Which would be fine for cake decorating (which I don't do...) I use mine for lady fingers, pate au choux, potatoes, that sort of thing.

Raygunclan, thanks for the heads-up on size, I measured my favorite, it's a Matfer Imper 20".

I found an online place that sells an 18" disposable, 100 pack for $25.95. That looks like my best bet. Should be close enough.

Thanks again everyone!

Lucy

[I used to know how to cook...]

WOW! Gosh, thanks everyone!!

Only 'restaurant supply' here is Smart & Final. They didn't have them.

There is a Michael's here. I'll check them out.

Lucy

[modthyrth]

Try to find a cake decorating store, and buy KopyKake brand disposable bags instead. I've had the Wilton ones burst on me more than once, and like the feel of the KopyKake brand bags better, too. You can get them in standard and LARGE sizes, too. Just the thing for assembling 40 gingerbread houses.

[I used to know how to cook...]

Thank you Modthyrth!

40 gingerbread houses???

Lucy

[raygunclan]

just make sure you know the size you want before you buy them. the chef at the restaurant i worked at bought me a box of them and they were too small. i was doing a hundred cupcakes at a time and never any detail work so i needed them big. the brand he bought was ateco.
i have to say that they are pretty awesome. i just drop the tip in, cut the end off of the bag and pipe.

http://cooksdream.com/store/disposabl...

[Becca Porter]

Walmart carries the disposable bags (two sizes) in the cake decorating section of their craft dept. I only use disposable as I hate to wash bags! I do not use couplers at all.

[hotoynoodle]

i think the metal cleans more easily, but i abandoned using a pastry bag long ago and just cut the tips off plastic bags.. same technique in the restaurants in which i've worked. those old-school bags are a b*tch to clean.

[I used to know how to cook...]

I agree Hotoy, especially the canvas ones...

I thought the coupler would make the ziplock bags work better. The tip wouldn't work it's way out of the bag. Wrong assumption on my part. Best to just cut off a tiny bit and shove in the tip!

Lucy

[Phurstluv]

You can buy disposable plastic pastry bags now, no cleaning.

[I used to know how to cook...]

Hi Phurstluv,

I've never seen those. Looked around a while ago thinking they must exist but gave up...

Where did you see them?

Lucy

[petek]

I've used the disposable plastic pastry bags,and they are great.The ones we use(catering kitchen) are on the large size.The come in a roll, kind of like plastic wrap. You might be able to find them in a restaurant supply store or if you know someone in the biz maybe they could order them for you from their dry goods supplier.

[Phurstluv]

I believe places like Sur La Table have "kits" with a supply of the plastic bags, and includes some plastic tips. I will go look in my drawer and give you the manufacturer's name.

Ok, it's a black package and made by Hutzler gerda. I never heard of them either, but they work well.

[vttp926]

I found my disposable bags at both Michael's and AC Moore. I bet Hobby Lobby also has them. Mine are made by Wilton. I didn't even need a coupler for my metal tip but I had to cut the bag open to get the tip out.

[Eat.Choui]

You can also buy them at Michaels. They always have 40-50% off coupons that you can use on them.

[I used to know how to cook...]

Hi,

Like Phurstluv, I have both and they're fine in the dishwasher. I put them over one of the top rack pegs.

I prefer the metal tips. Seems to give a more precise definition of what I'm piping.

However, recently I bought a plastic coupler and found that some (actually most...) of my tips didn't fit the coupler. So, if you're planning to get a coupler, it would be a good idea to check the fit of your tips.

Lucy

[Phurstluv]

I have both. I generally reach for the metal ones, have not had any bend or rust on me yet, and feel they clean a little bit easier as the oils from the cheese mousse or frosting don't seem to coat the metal, like it does on plastic. But both are probably okay to go through the dishwasher, just let them air dry thoroughly before storing or using again.