Dispensers
Dosing funnels and dispensers for the kitchen and for baking
A kitchen dosing funnel serves the exact amount of cream, sauce or batter with every movement and cuts off the flow when you release the lever, with no drips and no splashes. At Hiperchef you'll find stainless steel dosing funnels from 1 to 3.3 litres, pressure dispensers for baking of 0.75 litres that deliver 1 to 5 cl per shot and batter dispensers for pancakes, from Lacor, Pujadas, De Buyer and Kitchen Craft. These are the tools that get twenty muffins or a hundred macarons out identical and in half the time.
Dosing funnels with a lever
A dosing funnel is a stainless steel cone with an inner rod that opens and closes the outlet when you press the lever: you fill it once and portion it out plate by plate or mould by mould. The Lacor stainless steel dosing funnel Ø19 cm is made from 18/10 stainless steel, resistant to corrosion, to food acids and to salts; it holds 2 litres, measures Ø19 x 20 cm (27 cm with the stand) and includes three nozzles of 4, 6 and 8 mm, an ergonomic handle for one-handed use, a stable base with a drip tray and quick disassembly for cleaning.
From Pujadas there are two 1-litre versions, both in stainless steel and dishwasher-safe. The Pujadas basic dosing funnel with stand comes with its stand, stands 20 cm high with a Ø13 cm top opening and has a Ø7.5 mm bottom nozzle, a bore meant for sauces with some body. The Pujadas dosing funnel, the budget model, measures 19 cm high by Ø18 cm, weighs 520 g and comes with two nozzles of 4 and 6 mm; on this model the stand is sold separately, and for it there is the stainless steel Pujadas stand for chinois and funnel, 19 cm high and Ø28 cm, which also holds the chinois when you strain.
For the bakery and the professional kitchen, the De Buyer PRO automatic dosing funnel, from the KWIK range and made in France, comes in 1.5, 1.9 and 3.3 litres. You pour by pressing the lever with your thumb, with the flow under control at all times, and the inner mechanism comes apart completely with a wing screw, which makes cleaning far easier; the silicone feet give it stability and it is dishwasher-safe. It is the format for liquid and semi-liquid preparations: sauces, hot jelly, caramel or quiche mixture.
Pressure dispensers for baking
Here precision is measured in centilitres. The De Buyer Le Tube Essential pressure dispenser for baking holds 0.75 litres and has a stainless steel mechanism with a key to set the dose from 1 to 5 cl; it measures 38.4 x 10.5 cm, weighs 440 g and has a polypropylene handle and grip with non-slip TPE. Use it to fill muffin cases, pipe identical macarons or fill pieces with the same amount every time, which also lets you work out units and costs exactly. It is BPA-free and holds LFGB certification.
The De Buyer Le Tube pastry pressure dispenser version, with interchangeable containers, adds the option of keeping several preparations in the fridge and swapping the container in seconds, without emptying and refilling the bag every time you change preparation.
Batter dispensers and serving accessories
The Lacor batter dispenser, 1 litre has measuring marks on the container, in millilitres and in cups, plus an anti-drip and anti-splash system; it measures 16 x 11 x 18 cm, is made from polystyrene and silicone and meets CE and LFGB and is BPA-free. The Kitchen Craft batter dispenser and doughnut maker, from the Home Made range, has a non-stick coating and stands 18 cm high by Ø10 cm: press the plunger and it forms a perfect circle of batter for pancakes, crêpes or doughnuts (it is not dishwasher-safe).
For the service line and the griddle, the stainless steel butter roller by Lacor spreads melted butter evenly over bread or rolls in a single pass; it includes a GN 1/6 container of 1.6 litres and 100 mm in height, and the roller comes off for cleaning.
How to choose your dosing funnel
Start with how fluid the preparation is: for liquids and semi-liquids, a funnel with a lever; for thick creams, batters and fillings, a pressure dispenser or a piping bag. Move on to the nozzle bore, which is what sets the flow: 4 mm for fine threads and decoration, 6 mm for general use, 7.5 and 8 mm for sauces with body or for filling fast. Then the capacity: 1 litre is enough in a home kitchen, 2 to 3.3 litres pays off when you fill large batches. And check two details you appreciate every day: that the mechanism comes apart for cleaning and whether the stand is included or ordered separately.
If you are looking for other ways to portion, take a look at the squeeze bottles for cold sauces, the cream whippers and culinary siphons for foams and whipped cream, the piping bags and nozzles or the classic funnels for decanting. And go through the catalogue from Lacor, De Buyer and Kitchen Craft.
Frequently asked questions about dosing funnels and dispensers
What's the difference between a dosing funnel and a piping bag?
A dosing funnel sits on its stand, is filled once and releases the product when you press the lever, cutting off the flow as soon as you let go: it is cleaner and faster for liquid or semi-liquid preparations. A piping bag is held with both hands and works better for thick mixtures and decorating.
What nozzle diameter do I need?
It depends on the texture. The Pujadas funnels come with 4 and 6 mm nozzles and a 7.5 mm outlet on the basic model; the Lacor one includes three of 4, 6 and 8 mm. With 4 mm you make fine threads and details, 6 mm is the all-round bore and 7.5 to 8 mm is the choice for sauces with body or for filling quickly.
Are they dishwasher-safe?
The Pujadas stainless steel funnels and the De Buyer PRO model are dishwasher-safe, and their mechanism comes apart for a thorough clean. The Kitchen Craft doughnut maker, on the other hand, is washed by hand because of its non-stick coating.
What dosing funnel capacity should I go for?
One litre covers home use and small batches. The 2 litres of the Lacor funnel and the 1.5, 1.9 or 3.3 litres of the De Buyer PRO are meant for bakeries and service, when you want to fill many pieces without stopping to refill the funnel.
Are they suitable for hot preparations?
Yes. Stainless steel funnels are designed precisely for sauces, creams, hot jelly or caramel; the 18/10 steel of the Lacor model also stands up to food acids and salts.
Is the stand included with the funnel?
It depends on the model: the Pujadas basic funnel and the Lacor one include it, while with the cheaper Pujadas funnel it is sold separately. The Pujadas stand for chinois and funnel, Ø28 cm and 19 cm high, works for both jobs.