Why professional edible artists use Wafer paper over Rice paper

What is Wafer paper?

Wafer paper, also known as edible paper, is a thin sheet made with only natural ingredients like potato starch, water, and sunflower oil. Good Wafer paper is made from high-quality potato starch. Due to the abundant availability of potatoes in the Netherlands, it’s likely that your Wafer paper comes from this small European country. Wafer paper is most commonly used for:

• Edible anti-stick material for food-related products like nougat, calissons, and fruit bars.
• Creating edible decorations to personalize cakes or muffins, or beautiful edible flowers.
• A main ingredient for sugar-free candy, like Yummy Money
  
  

 

What is Rice paper?

Rice paper, often used in Asian cuisine, is made from rice flour, water, and sometimes tapioca. Because of the high availability of rice starch in Asian countries like Cambodia, Rice paper is often produced in Asia. It is mostly used for:

• Making rice paper rolls.
• Savory dishes like spring rolls.

 

Which edible paper is your go-to choice: rice paper or wafer paper?

Comparing wafer paper with Rice paper is like comparing sweet and sour. So when should you use Wafer paper, and when should you use Rice paper?

 

Rice paper is thinner and more transparent than Wafer paper and becomes soft and pliable when moistened. When dried, Rice paper has a crisp texture, making it perfect for savory dishes like wrapping vegetables and meats for spring rolls. However, Rice paper becomes soft and pliable when moistened, making it less suitable for cake decorations.

 

While Rice paper often requires soaking to become flexible, Wafer paper is ready to use straight from the package, saving you time and effort which you can use on your most beautiful edible art decorations. Wafer paper is stiffer and keeps its shape better, making it easier to create your vision. That’s why it is often used for sweet applications like cake decorations. Wafer paper is used to make candy, edible art, and even allows you to work with edible ink. This makes Wafer paper a go-to choice for edible branding, like printing a logo on bread or cake.

 

Why professional decorators work with Wafer paper

 

If you’re still reading this article, you probably know by now why Wafer paper is the better choice for edible art. Professional decorators, like cake decorators, choose Wafer paper because it’s easy to use and allows you to create detailed shapes, making it possible to create the perfect piece of edible art. Tip: when working with Wafer paper, make sure to store it in a cool and dry place to keep it ready to use and prevent it from becoming brittle.

 

If you are still wondering if it’s possible to create art with Wafer paper, take a look at how Petya Shmarova uses Wafer paper to create these edible flowers.

 

Your go-to inspiration for your next Wafer paper project:

 

Wafer Paper Flowers

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