Self-service buffet organisers
If guests will be adding their own aniseed sprinkles, you’ll want a dispenser that’s easy to use and doesn’t create too much mess. The opening is more important than the holder’s capacity alone.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Anyone decorating small portions
If you’re serving aniseed sprinkles alongside a liquid topping, you’ll need two different dispensers. A squeeze bottle can help you add the liquid topping, but it won’t replace a shaker for dry sprinkles.
Professional buffet caterers
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about any allergens present must be available when aniseed sprinkles are served unwrapped. Check the current packaging of the sprinkles you’re serving.
What should you consider when choosing?
First decide whether the holder needs to dispense dry aniseed sprinkles or a separate liquid topping. Then consider the opening, the capacity you need and whether it’s suitable for food contact.
Shaker for aniseed sprinkles
When to choose it: Guests need to be able to serve themselves whole or crushed aniseed sprinkles.
Consider: A shaker is suited to dry contents, but you should still test its opening beforehand with the sprinkles you’ve chosen.
Squeeze bottle for a liquid topping
When to choose it: You want to add a sauce or another liquid topping to individual portions alongside the aniseed sprinkles.
Consider: A small bottle may need refilling more often and won’t dispense dry aniseed sprinkles.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Dispensing dry aniseed sprinkles | Choose a food-contact-safe shaker or dispenser and test the opening with the exact product, whether whole or crushed. | If guests are serving themselves, I want them to be able to sprinkle the contents without having to keep fixing the holder or wiping down the buffet. Around 50% of consumers prioritise this kind of dry self-service. |
| Dispensing a liquid topping | Compare the capacity and nozzle of squeeze bottles for your topping. HENDI, for example, lists a 0,2 l option, while Araven offers a 250 ml mini squeeze bottle. | When decorating small portions, I want to apply the liquid topping precisely and work out how often it’s practical to refill the bottle. This is the main priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Food contact and allergens | Check that the holder is intended for food contact. If serving unwrapped products, refer to the current packaging for allergen information. | If I’m catering a professional buffet, I want to use suitable holders and be able to tell guests about any allergens present. Around 17% of consumers prioritise this check. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing a narrow-nozzle sauce bottle for aniseed sprinkles
The bottles described are intended for sauces, dressings, oil and similar contents. A narrow nozzle doesn’t tell you whether whole or crushed aniseed sprinkles will flow through it.
Use a shaker or dispenser for the sprinkles instead, and try it out with the exact contents before the buffet. Keep a squeeze bottle separate for a liquid topping.
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Using a decorative bottle without checking its food-contact information
A holder that comes into direct contact with food must be intended for food contact. Its appearance or the name of the material alone doesn’t confirm this.
Before use, check the manufacturer’s information about the product’s intended contact with food. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the rules for these food-contact articles in the Netherlands.
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Throwing away the packaging without noting the allergen information
When a professional caterer serves aniseed sprinkles unwrapped, guests must be able to get information about any allergens present. The De Ruijter aniseed sprinkles examined list wheat and gluten.
Check the current packaging of the product you’re using and make sure the allergen information is available at the buffet.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
Relevant to what goes in the shaker: Albert Heijn describes 330 g Feestmuisjes as sugar-coated aniseed, while Jumbo also lists 270 g Gestampte Muisjes (crushed aniseed sprinkles).
- Choosing whole or crushed aniseed sprinkles determines which product you should try in your chosen shaker beforehand.
- These dry products have not been confirmed as suitable for a sauce squeeze bottle. Check the allergens on the current packaging too.
HENDI
HENDI lists squeeze bottles in 0,2, 0,35 and 0,7 l sizes for sauces, dressings and similar contents, as well as a separate 0,20 l sugar dispenser.
- According to HENDI, the squeeze bottles have a narrow nozzle, a closing cap and a wide filling opening.
- The stated use of the squeeze bottles doesn’t confirm that they’re suitable for dry aniseed sprinkles. Try a sugar dispenser with the exact product first too.
Araven
Araven offers mini squeeze bottles in 90, 150 and 250 ml sizes for dispensing sauces, dressings and similar contents.
- The range of capacities lets you choose a bottle based on how much separate liquid topping you need and how often you want to refill it.
- The stated use doesn’t support using these bottles to dispense dry aniseed sprinkles.
Joybuy products
Matching products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put whole aniseed sprinkles in a sauce squeeze bottle?
Don’t rely on a sauce squeeze bottle as your go-to dispenser for whole aniseed sprinkles. The bottles described are intended for liquid or soft contents. Choose a suitable shaker or dispenser for the dry sprinkles and test it beforehand with the exact product.
What capacity is best for a squeeze bottle at a buffet?
For a separate liquid topping, choose a small bottle based on how much you want to prepare at a time. HENDI lists a 0,2 l option and Araven a 250 ml one. The larger of the two should need refilling less often, but neither capacity tells you whether dry aniseed sprinkles will pass through the opening.
What should I check for a bottle or shaker that comes into contact with food?
Check that the bottle or shaker you choose is intended for food contact. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that articles intended to come into contact with food in the Netherlands must comply with the applicable food-contact rules. Don’t rely on a decorative appearance or the name of the material alone.
Do I need to provide allergen information for aniseed sprinkles at a professional buffet?
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, consumers must be able to get information about any allergens present when food is served unwrapped by a professional caterer. Check the packaging of the aniseed sprinkles you’re actually serving; the De Ruijter Feestmuisjes and Gestampte Muisjes examined list wheat and gluten.