Pastry bags are something that most people are familiar with, however this name isn’t one that might ring a bell for most. That’s because these bags are actually more commonly known as piping bags, which is their name used internationally as opposed to the formerly mentioned name that’s usually only used in US and its surrounding regions.
If you’re into baking and do it regularly, there’s little to no doubt that you or someone that works around the kitchen alongside you know exactly what they are and why they’re so important.
For those that aren’t exactly sure about what these things are, piping bags are basically instruments used inside the kitchen mainly for baking purposes. They hold semi-solid foods inside of them which can be squeezed out through the nozzle.
They come in very handy for baking cakes, pastries, and other things of the sort as they can be used to make decorations in the most accurate ways possible. However sometimes not everyone has access to them, which can be rather undesirable. Here are some alternatives which cooks can use in place of them though.
Best Piping Bag Alternatives
- Parchment Paper
One of the possible options we recommend trying is parchment paper. It is something that is found in most kitchens, meaning that it shouldn’t be too much of a problem for users to find some and use it as an alternative for the piping bag.
It doesn’t need to be pointed out, but just in case for those wondering, obviously there are some extra steps involved with this alternative since it can’t be used as a substitute for piping bags just as it is.
You’ll need to get it ready for use before all else. To do so, the first step is cutting a square like shape into the surface of the parchment paper with the help of any tool of choice. Now make the paper fold into a triangular shape that matches that of a common piping bag.
Now tape it up together and use a metal nozzle if you have one for optimal results. Just following these steps as they are will grant cooks their much needed piping bag substitute.
- Confectionary Funnels
This is one alternative in particular which is in a sense the easiest to use but at the same time one of the most difficult ones to use too. To elaborate, out of all the alternatives listed here, this is the one that users don’t have to prepare on their own. Instead, they can just use the confectionery funnel as it is.
However, the downside is that adjusting to this and making designs using these funnels can be a little difficult at first. That’s nothing too bad though, since it’s easy enough to get used to it after a while, even if there are some initial troubles.
- Kitchen Towel
A kitchen towel is certainly a fun replacement too. While it might sound a bit weird at first, these can easily be altered to become suitable for usage in the kitchen. Just roll them up and shape them to match the appearance of piping bags while wrapping them in plastic so the content inside doesn’t touch the towel. Now make an opening for the content and use the towel as a piping bag whenever needed.
- Sandwich Bags
Another great option worth trying out is a sandwich bag. These are so good because of the fact that they are easily disposable and are usually found lying around in most kitchens, meaning they can be a quick and suitable alternative for piping bags that provide a lot of convenience. Fold it from one corner to another so that the shape becomes similar to that of a piping bag.
Once that is done, just add whatever content you wish to inside of it before twisting it from the top. This way all of the content will press against the bottom/opening of the sandwich bag while the top will be sealed suitably. The next step is to just arrange a way for the contents inside to pour out in a desirable manner, after which the substitute for piping bags will be ready.