We Asked 5 Baking Experts About the Best Piping Bags, and These Ones Are Some of Their Favorites

Pies, pastries and cakes — so easy to eat, but just a little more complicated to make. And with the holiday season approaching, it’s time to think about what to bring to the Thanksgiving table and how you can create it.

Making a dessert from scratch may seem complicated, but with the right tools, you can be unstoppable. Enter: the piping bag. These sheets of plastic can help you create the most intricate decorations for an oven-baked masterpiece or quickly fill a doughy confection with the sweetest custards.

The possibilities with piping bags are endless, but does any type of bag work for all piping? We consulted with five baking experts for their opinions: Justin Ellen, @everythingjustbaked on Instagram and author of Better Than Grandma’s; Liz Marek, founder of the Sugar Geek Show blog; Sam Merritt, founder of the Sugar Spun Run blog; John Kanell, founder of Preppy Kitchen and author of Preppy Kitchen Everyday Baking: Because It's Always Time for Dessert; and Abbey Kowalec, @angelbakednyc on Instagram. Keep scrolling to find out everything you should know about piping bags, along with which ones are the best to get.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a reusable piping bag vs. a disposable piping bag?

“The most significant differences come down to durability, convenience and cleanup,” says Merritt. Reusable bags are made from a variety of materials, such as heavier plastic, synthetic fabric, coated canvas or silicone. Disposable bags are made from a thinner plastic, almost like a Ziplock bag.

Choosing between a reusable bag or a disposable bag all comes down to preference. If you’re not planning on using a variety of fillings in one sitting and are willing to clean them well (grease left behind in a bag can ruin a meringue or royal icing, according to Marek), then opt for a reusable bag. The experts we consulted unanimously preferred a disposable piping bag. It saves them time and they're easy to toss, which makes everything incredibly convenient.

What fillings go in a piping bag?

Technically, any kind of filling can go in a piping bag but, like Ellen says, “The thinner the consistency, the easier it is for it to leak or ooze out of the bag.” Fillings that tend to do well in piping bags include ganaches, buttercreams, jams and cream cheese frostings.

What tip should you use with a piping bag?

Piping tips depend on personal preference and what use you have for the piping bag. Make sure that the bag you have is large enough for the tip that you plan on using — you don’t want the tip to take up so much space that you’re not able to fit any frosting inside the bag. “The bag just holds the frosting,” says Marek. “The tip decides the shape of your piped frosting.”

Whether it’s rosettes, flowers or lettering you want to add to your baking masterpiece, having a piping tip is up to your discretion. Some of the experts we consulted with prefer not to use a piping tip — for Kowalec, control of the icing is easier without a tip. Rather than using a tip, you can instead cut a small hole at the end of the bag to create an opening. This won’t create a defined shape, but it will give you a clean and precise line.

What mistakes should you look out for when using a piping bag?

The biggest mistake you could possibly make when using a piping bag is not securing the opening of the bag tightly closed. “When you squeeze the bag, you want the pressure to go out through the piping tip,” says Kanell. “If you don’t have the end of the bag tightly secured, the frosting can push out that end too — and it gets VERY messy!” Overfilling can also lead to filling spilling out of the top. Marek says to only fill a bag about halfway before twisting the top closed.

Also, make sure to fill your piping bag slowly, pressing down on the filling with a spatula or spoon to minimize the air trapped in the bag. According to Merritt, leaving air pockets can cause messy sputtering when the frosting comes out, and that can ruin a beautiful design. You can also avoid air pockets by squeezing the filling out from the top of the bag, not the middle. That way, it won’t be separated inside the bag and will streamline your piping process.

If you’re not using a piping tip, the size of the hole you cut at the bottom of the bag can really make a difference. “If the hole is too large, it will look messy, and you won’t be able to achieve those clean detail lines,” Kowalec says. “If the hole in the bag is too small, the icing will curl on itself, which will also cause messy line work.” The best practice is to start small and test out a few lines on the side before beginning the real decoration.

What are other things you should consider when looking for piping bags?

Size: “I use bigger bags when I’m decorating a large cake with one frosting color, or if I’m filling something like donuts or cookies with a custard,” says Kanell. “Small bags are great for multiple frosting colors. I also use them for cookie decorating and divide my royal icing colors into multiple small piping bags so someone doesn’t have to wait for their color to be free.”

Durability: A stiffer frosting requires a sturdier bag, according to Marek. “A durable reusable bag or a heavy-duty disposable bag is a good choice, since bags with weaker seams could split under pressure,” Merritt says. When it comes to a softer frosting, any bag will do.

Gripability: “I also really like piping bags that have some texture on the outside, because they’re much easier to grip, especially when your hands get a little greasy from buttercream,” Ellen says. The easier it is to dispense the better, as some types can melt if your hand is warming them for too long inside the bag. Take breaks if you have to!

Now that you know all there is to know about piping bags, here are some of the experts’ favorite ones.