While both the edible papers can be printed on with edible ink printers, the question remains which one you should use! Here’s a list of differences between the two kinds of paper to help you decide which one is better suited to your needs and requirements.
Cost Comparison Between Wafer Papers & Frosting Sheets
One of the foremost things that anyone looks for is the price tag. It has to be affordable because cakes, cupcakes, and cookies should not leave a big fat hole in your pocket. The price of blank printable wafer paper per package starts from $7.99 and the price of frosting sheets per pack starts from $13.99. The edible sheets are made of different materials and work differently, hence the difference. They both have their unique features and advantages. So, use wisely.
Comparison Of Texture & materials
Wafer paper is made using potato starch and vegetable oil. It remains thin and sturdy. They are translucent and ideal to use for cake toppers, printing bold and organic shapes, 3D edible structures like flowers, butterflies, and edible sails. The rice papers can be cut using a pair of scissors, as well as a die-cut machine, and anything in between.
Frosting sheets, on the other hand, are majorly made of corn starch and sugar. These have the texture of fondant and are a little thick, fragile. Frosting sheets are pure white and have a smooth texture, best suitable for printing edible images. They have an edge over wafer sheets in terms of printing cake prints or edible pictures. The picture printed on frosting sheets features vivid, bright colors, whereas the prints on wafer sheets often seem a little dull.
Reaction To Edible ink & Appearances
Both sheets take edible colors well, but wafer paper absorbs less ink, compared to the frosting sheets. The colors on the wafer sheet don’t fade once printed, but they do lack vibrancy and richness. On the other hand, for printed frosting sheets fading is visible after a few hours of printing, while the images remain crisp and clear.
Hence, wafer paper is of advantage if you are using them for airbrushing or making edible flowers, edible paper decoration, edible butterflies, etc. Whereas, for edible pictures, we highly recommend using Frosting Sheets.
Application on Cakes/ Cupcakes/ Cookies
Wafer paper can be applied to only dry cookies topped with royal icing, cookie glaze, etc. They dissolve in water so using edible glue is a must. It can also be cut into different shapes and used as a stand-alone for topping cupcakes. Since it does not mix with the icing, it can be difficult to use as a centerpiece for a cake.
Frosting sheets are applied to wet frostings, royal icing, or cookie glaze. It can only be used in a flat shape in some form of icing. The fondant of the edible sheets gets absorbed by the frosting easily, leaving behind a beautiful image.
Storage Instructions Of Rice Papers & Icing Papers
Storage is a tentative task – one that should not be sidelined. Although rice sheets or wafer papers do not require tight air-free storage, they can still dry out. They don’t crack as easily as the icing sheets.
On the contrary, frosting sheets will dry out or they will not be printed properly if not stored in airtight zip-lock bags. The two kinds of sheets have a variety of differences, so one must choose carefully between the two, keeping in mind the purpose.
A Quick Sum-up:
- For concise images, it’s better to use a frosting sheet.
- For vast colorful shapes, a wafer paper might suit your needs better.
- The printing quality and colors are very vibrant with frosting sheets. Also, frosting sheets have a little bit of vanilla flavor and it tastes sweet.
- Wafer paper has no taste. Wafer papers are best to use for little details such as edible flowers, leaves, feathers, clip arts, edible cake sails, and geometrical shapes.
