Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

Working from home and sometimes elsewhere, differing temperatures and dampness have a softening effect on icing and flowerpaste – takes up moisture? Is this general knowledge and experience?

Hi philip-gaskell

Unfortunately differing temperatures can affect icing and flower paste. Humidity and moisture will make it go quite sticky and stretchy causing havoc, as in fact experienced by so many members this summer. Storing in a cool environment can help alleviate some of the problems. I find storing icing and flower paste in an air tight container ( I use a cake storage tin, courtesy of Renshaw’s) and kept in a cool environment works for me. This can be difficult if you’re working from different places where you’re unable to control the temperature. I run a fan during humid or damp days while decorating, ventilation helps to keep the paste from becoming soft and stretchy. Adding a little tylose or gum tragacanth to over soft paste can help firm it up if it becomes too difficult to roll out for enrobing or modeling figurines and flowers. I’m sure other members will contribute more information.