To effectively dry icing on a cake, you can use methods that reduce moisture in the air or cool the environment around the baked goods.
Effective Methods for Drying Icing
Drying icing helps it set, creating a firmer surface that is less likely to smudge or be damaged. Based on common techniques, two primary methods involve controlling the air quality around your cake: using a dehumidifier or cool air-conditioning.
Using a Dehumidifier
A dehumidifier works by removing moisture from the air. Placing one near your cake creates a drier environment, which helps the icing dry more quickly.
Steps:
- Placement: Place the dehumidifier in the same room as your baked goods. Ensure it's close enough to affect the air directly around the cake but not so close that airflow disrupts delicate decorations.
- Settings: Turn it on, and place it on the highest setting. Maximize its moisture-removing capabilities.
- Duration: Leave it turned on until the icing is completely dry. The time required will vary depending on the type of icing, its thickness, and the room's original humidity level.
This method is particularly effective for icings like royal icing, glazes, or crusting buttercreams that benefit from surface drying.
Using Cool Air-Conditioning
If a dehumidifier isn't available, cool air-conditioning can serve as an alternative method to help dry icing. Air conditioners cool the air and also remove some humidity as a byproduct of the cooling process.
Alternative Method:
- Simply turn on the cool air-conditioning instead. Keep the cake in the air-conditioned room. While perhaps less efficient at removing moisture than a dedicated dehumidifier, the cooler temperature and reduced humidity can still aid the drying and setting process of the icing.
Both methods rely on creating an environment that encourages the evaporation of moisture from the icing, leading to a firmer, drier finish.
