Preparing Flowers for Storage
Keep flower petals as thin as possible when putting your flowers together. Thicker rolls of gumpaste can take a long time to dry and so it's best to keep storage in mind when constructing your blooms and keep the flower petals as thin as you can. Use a rolling pin and press firmly on the petals to keep them thin.
Let the finished flowers dry for at least 24 hours. Moisture will ruin gumpaste flowers and even the slightest amount of damp air can make the petals wilt and droop so it's important to dry the flowers completely. Lay flowers out flat on a baking sheet or paper towel to dry. A dark shelf in a dry room is a perfect place to dry your flowers. Don't put them in the fridge as this is a damp environment. Keep flowers out in the open to dry rather than covering them up or putting them in a box.
Don't touch the flowers with your fingers during the drying process. When waiting for the gumpaste flowers to dry, it might be tempting to touch them to check how dry they are but this can ruin their shape and colour and destroy all your hard work. Your fingers may be hot or damp or even dirty. Try to resist temptation and just give the flowers time to dry on their own. If you need to move the flowers once they've been made, wear plastic gloves or pick the flowers up using a paper towel or tissue.
Storing the Flowers
Use an airtight container with a clear lid. Gumpaste flowers keep best in an airtight, plastic container with a lid, as long as there is no moisture left in the flowers themselves. A clear container is best so you can check on your flowers from time to time and be sure they've kept their shape. A basic Tupperware container is the perfect storage tool for your flowers.
Add padding and drying packs to keep the flowers safe and dry. Some padding, like bubble wrap, is essential to keep very delicate flower petals safe from injury when in storage. If you don't have bubble wrap, you can also use paper towels. If you aren't completely sure that the flowers are dry, or if you live somewhere very humid, you can also add silica gel packs to wick any extra moisture away from your flowers. If you don't have silica packs, a piece of white bread placed inside the container with the flowers can also wick moisture away.
Store the container in a cool, dry, place. Too much light could ruin the colour of the gumpaste flowers so choose the place you store them carefully. Don't put the flowers in the fridge or freezer, the flowers can take on the flavours from food in your fridge and may also crack as they thaw after you've taken them out.
Check the flowers at least once a week. Keep a close eye on your gumpaste flowers while they are in storage to make sure they have kept their shape and colour and no moisture has ruined them. There would be nothing worse than opening them up to decorate a wedding cake just before the big day and finding they have wilted! Give yourself time to make more just in case anything has gone wrong in storage.
Transport the flowers separately from the cake to keep them safe. If the gumpaste flowers are destined for a wedding or special event cake, it is best to assemble everything at the venue on the day. That way, you won't have to worry about the flowers falling off the cake or being damaged while in transit. A well padded storage box can also help transport your flowers safely.
Comments
0 comment