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Piping bag

Utensils & kitchen tools · Piping bag

Piping bag

A cone-shaped bag fitted with a nozzle for piping icing, cream, meringue, choux and dough in neat shapes.

Specialist · Manual · 11 recipes

Photo: Polyparadigm, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

What it is

A conical bag of disposable plastic, reusable fabric or silicone, open at the wide end and fitted with a metal or plastic nozzle at the tip. Plain round nozzles pipe dots and lines; star nozzles give ridged swirls. Piping lets you place soft mixtures precisely.

What it’s for: Shaping and depositing soft mixtures neatly and evenly.

How to use it

  1. Fit the nozzle, then stand the bag in a tall glass and fold the top over the rim.
  2. Fill about two-thirds full, then twist the top closed.
  3. Hold the twist with one hand and squeeze gently; guide the tip with the other hand.
  4. Stop squeezing before lifting away to end each shape cleanly.

Good to know

Tasks
icing cupcakes and cakes, piping meringue and choux pastry, filling doughnuts and pastries, piping mashed potato, making jalebi and churros
Cooking methods
Oven-baked, Deep-fried, Whipped
Materials
disposable plastic, coated cotton, silicone, metal or plastic nozzles
Care and cleaning
Turn reusable bags inside out, wash in hot soapy water and dry fully. Wash nozzles with a small brush.
Limitations
Warm hands melt buttercream; overfilling makes the bag hard to control.

If you don’t have one

  • Freezer bag with a snipped corner — Works for simple lines and filling; no shaped nozzles.
  • Spatula — Spread icing with an offset spatula.

Equipment guide

How it works: Pressure from your hand forces a soft mixture through a nozzle, shaping it. The nozzle's shape gives stars, ropes or rounds; a steady pressure gives even piping.

MaterialGoodWatch out
Disposable plasticHygienic, no washing.Single use.
Reusable fabric or siliconeStrong and less waste.Must be washed and dried thoroughly.
Disposable bags
Icing, choux, meringue.
Reusable bags
Large batches.
Nozzles (round, star, petal)
Change shape of the piped line.

Buying guidance

Starting out: Disposable bags and a set of round and open-star nozzles.

  • Bag length 30–45 cm
  • Coupler to change nozzles
  • Nozzles in stainless steel

No brands or prices — check current reviews before buying.

Techniques:BakingFoams and airsPlating

Related tools

Recipes that use it