Almost Empty AmeriColor Bottles…
Today I want to talk to you about AmeriColor Soft Gel Paste Food Color. Well actually, I want to talk about almost empty  AmeriColor bottles. I like AmeriColors because I like being able to add one drop of color at a time without using a toothpick. Now, don’t get me wrong, I have several bottles of Wilton colors that I use but, I prefer the AmeriColor. No other reason than “NOT” using a toothpick to add color! I get really irritated when the bottle is almost empty and I turn it upside down so all the gel will be in the lid. I take the lid off to shake out the last few drops but I still see some color in there and it won’t come out! Has this happened to you?
I have an idea:)
How to get the last bit of color out of the AmeriColor bottles:
We add a little water to our icing to thin it down don’t we?
Well, I added a few drops to the almost empty AmeriColor bottle…
and put the lid back on it….
and gave it a little shake and guess what?
I had enough color to mix 2 more bags of icing! I am saving a little money by using ALL the color in little bottle. Now, this will also help when you are making icing at 2am and run out of a color. You don’t have to drop everything and go rob a Hobby Lobby. Just add a few drops of water and it should get you through those last few cookies!
Here are a few tips:
1. Be careful when you add it to the icing. It will come out of the bottle really fast! Add it slow but keep in mind the color has been diluted a little so it may take more than you think!
2. Add the color before you thin down your icing. I know I only added a few drop of water to the empty bottles but, it was enough to thin my icing a little.
Happy Creating,
this is an awesome tip!
Awesome! You are genious, my dear!
Brilliant!!
Great advice! Now, how do I get my Americolor Violet to actually look like violet? I can see most of the violet colour on the bottom of both the gel and the airbrush bottles. My icing always comes out bluish. I keep thinking if only I could take this bottle to the paint store, they’d shake it up for me in their machine 😉 (Mine are 4.5oz bottles)
I totally agree with you! I am not crazy about the violet either. That is why I keep the Wilton around:)
Yes, I agree. I keep the Wilton teal and burgundy around, too.
Add some baking soda to the AC royal purple that has turned bluish and it will revert back to the royal purple colors. I just put a few drops on a Styrofoam plate, mix in some baking soda, and voila.
Thanks for the tip!
Good thinking! I have another question about Americolor that someone here may know the answer to… I recently got one of the larger (4 oz. I think) of the Super White. It is a lot runnier than the other colors I have. Is this normal?
Nice!
Ya my white was very much runnier that the other colors as well!!
Thanks for the tip! I will certainly be adding water to my almost empty bottles!
I love that Im not the only one who does this. It’s such an awesome tip and thank you for blogging about it.
Great Idea, thanks!
I love Americolor as well for the same reason, because it’s hard to figure out “drops” when mixing colors. Ingenious!
You’re so smart. ♥
Now why didn’t I think of that???? Such a smart gal!!
thats such a good idea ! why couldn’t i think of that one . one time i had a jar of vanilla bean paste and there was alot in there so i tossed in some vanilla put it in the mircrowave and bam it came out lol
Hey Lisa, I wonder if it would work to add flood consistency icing to the bottle instead of the water so that you don’t have to worry about thinning your other icing too much. Just a thought. I too am sold on the Americolor brand.
BTW: The white does seem thinner to me too, but I foumd if I stirred it up with a skewer, like you use for shiskabobs (spelling?) that it seemed to help lift the thicker part that seems to settle on the bottom with the white… kinda like it does with paint. Shaking alone doesn’t seem to do a good enough job.
Thanks for the tip!
Awesome tip, Lisa. Sometimes we get so focused on the frosting, we don’t think about the color…or the lack thereof. Such a simple solution. Yay!!!
Love it! Thanks Lisa!
Such a great tip – thanks so much for sharing! The extra few drops in the bottle have always plagued me…
holy cow, i never ever would have thought of that, i just chuck ’em and huff n puff and think to myself, wish i got the very last drop out of the bottle. Thanks for sharing! Brilliant! :O)
BRILLIANT!!
I always added glycerin, but this sounds soooooo much easier! Thanks for sharing!!
Brilliant! A tip I will DEFINITELY be using. Thank you!!
Not only is that brilliant…but I will be absolutely sure my husband sees me do it so that I can show off my thrifty cookie making nature and he will not mind the next time the ups man brings me new cutters!! You are a smart one Miss Lisa!
This is a tip that can ONLY come from experience! Great POST!
This is SUCH a great idea!! I always do it for laundry soap but I NEVER NEVER NEVER would have thought to apply it to icing colors as well!! You are brilliant!!
I have all kinds of Americolor bottles with a little W on the color circle so I know it has been watered down…Plus the bottle is clean when I’m done so I feel better tossing it into recycling!
Tried this today with my Tulip Red…forgot about the water factor and watering down my icing…but my icing consistency turned out PERFECT and there’s still more color left in the bottle. Thanks so much for the tip!! 😀
I got a little scared when you wrote”forgot about the water factor.” I thought your icing was too thin but then I got really happy when you said it was PERFECT! Yeah!! I am glad it worked for you:) Happy Creating!
This is one of those things that makes you say “why didn’t I think of that?”. It’s genious! I have some colors that are running low so I will definitely be utilizing this. My colors will be good to the last drop.
I’ve been saving my almost empty bottles and I thin it with vodka to use for painting! 🙂
That is brilliant Lynea! I love that!!
Lisa, how do I make black or red icing that doesn’t taste bitter? Want the deep colors to decorate Christmas cookies. Really like your blog. I learn so much.