spuitzak

Spuitzak is the Dutch term for a piping bag, a flexible bag used in baking and patisserie to pipe semi-solid foods such as icing, whipped cream, pastry cream, or mashed potatoes. In English it is known as piping bag or icing bag. The bag is fitted with a nozzle (tip) at its closed end, through which the contents are extruded. A coupler may be used to swap nozzles without changing the bag.

Most spuitzakken are made of cloth (cotton or linen) or silicone, and can be reusable or disposable (plastic). Historically cloth bags were lined with parchment or used without a lining, and were squeezed by hand. Modern practice uses disposable plastic bags or washable silicone bags. Nozzle shapes vary, from plain round tips to star, ridged, or specialized shapes, enabling different decorative effects. Bags come in various capacities, commonly several hundred milliliters.

Use: they are used to decorate cakes and pastries, fill pastries with creams, or pipe mashed potatoes. In professional kitchens, culinary students often learn to control pressure and speed to achieve consistent results.

Care: cloth bags require washing and drying; silicone and some plastics are dishwasher safe; printed or lined bags should be cleaned to prevent staining or odors.