You don't need a squeeze bottle for loose crushed aniseed sprinkles: they're a dry product that you can sprinkle over food or mix into batter. If you want to pipe a smooth cream or icing containing the sprinkles, choose a small bottle for detailed work or a larger one for more bakes. Check that the filling will pass through the nozzle and that the bottle is suitable for food contact.
You make cupcakes, biscuits or a small cake and want to apply a smooth cream or icing precisely. An Allerhande recipe mixes crushed aniseed sprinkles into buttercream; if you're using a squeeze bottle, the finished filling must also be able to pass through the nozzle you've chosen.
You add crushed aniseed sprinkles to a bake or use them as a topping, and want a practical way to portion them out for several servings. Jumbo suggests using them on cupcakes, cakes and pastries; a larger bottle is only useful if you're preparing a decoration that can be squeezed.
You only use crushed aniseed sprinkles now and then, so you don't want to put more decoration in a bottle than you need. For any unused dry sprinkles, the Voedingscentrum advises sealing the pack well and storing it in a dry place.
First decide whether you'll use the sprinkles dry or want to pipe a smooth decoration. Only for the latter do the bottle capacity and nozzle opening really matter.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Suitable filling | Use the bottle for a liquid or semi-liquid decoration, and check whether the prepared mixture is smooth enough to pass through the nozzle. Sprinkle dry aniseed sprinkles as they are or mix them into batter as instructed by the recipe. | If I want to use the sprinkles as a dry topping, I don't want to buy a bottle that can't dispense them. For around 42% of consumers, choosing how to use the product comes first. |
| Bottle capacity and nozzle | Choose a capacity that suits the amount of decoration you've prepared, and check the nozzle opening. Baktotaal lists bottles in sizes including 20 cl and 35 cl; Nisbets Nederland describes a 1 L Araven bottle with a cut-to-size nozzle. | For small decorations, I want precise control; for larger bakes, I want to refill less often. Around 33% of consumers give suitable portioning the highest priority. |
| Use and storage | Check that the bottle is suitable for food contact, and read the instructions for temperature and cleaning. Check the current label on the sprinkles, and store any unused product well sealed and in a dry place. | If I'm reusing a bottle or need to take allergens into account, I want to know how to use the bottle and ingredients safely. That's a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn describes crushed aniseed sprinkles as crushed, sugared aniseed. A squeeze bottle for liquid or semi-liquid decorations is no substitute for a shaker.
First decide whether you'll sprinkle them, mix them into batter or pipe them as part of a prepared cream or icing. A squeeze bottle may be useful only for that last option.
A narrow opening leaves less room for a mixture that isn't smooth, even when the bottle itself is suitable for decorating.
Check the consistency before filling the bottle. If it has a cut-to-size nozzle, adjust the opening to suit the prepared decoration.
You can't tell from a bottle's shape or flexibility whether it's intended for food contact. The European Commission and the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority set out requirements for food contact materials.
Check what the specific bottle is designed for, and follow the accompanying instructions for temperature, cleaning and reuse.
Wheat is listed on the De Ruijter product described here. Unused sprinkles should also be kept in a dry, well-sealed pack.
If you have allergies, always check the current label. Store any leftover dry sprinkles according to the instructions on the packaging.
A relevant choice if you're looking for crushed aniseed sprinkles for bread or home baking, but not a brand of squeeze bottles.
A relevant option if you're considering a larger bottle for a liquid or sufficiently smooth decoration.
A relevant option if you're comparing squeeze bottles in different sizes for cake decorating.
Not if you want to squeeze them through the nozzle: Albert Heijn describes them as dry, crushed, sugared aniseed. Sprinkle them as they are or mix them into batter or cream as directed by the recipe. Only use a bottle if the prepared decoration is suitable for it.
A small bottle works well for a limited amount of smooth decoration and precise piping. Baktotaal lists bottles in sizes including 20 cl and 35 cl; choose based on how much cream or icing you've prepared, not the weight of the pack of sprinkles.
A 1 L bottle may be suitable if you want to dispense a larger quantity of liquid or sufficiently smooth decoration in one go. The Araven bottle described by Nisbets Nederland has measurement markings and a cut-to-size nozzle, but may be less handy for detailed work.
Choose a bottle that's intended for food contact. The European Commission and the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority set out requirements for these materials; also check the temperature and cleaning instructions for the specific product.
If you have allergies, check the current label: wheat is listed on the De Ruijter product described here. Store any leftover dry crushed aniseed sprinkles in a well-sealed pack in a dry place, as advised by the Voedingscentrum.
