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You’re decorating a cake, and you just can’t get around to the back of the cake without climbing all over your counter. Or maybe you’ve tried pulling your table to the middle of the room so you can just walk all around the cake.
Or you could invest in a cake turntable.
These spinnable platforms help you get all around cakes for even icing and consistent details without the gymnastics you were performing before. They’re an essential tool for cake decorators and will make your life so much easier. We promise.
We’ve put together a list of our top picks for cake turntables. There’s a little something for every type and level of decorator. Plus, we’ve answered a few questions you may have about how to choose the best turntable for you. Let’s take a look.
Table of Contents
5 Best Cake Turntables To Transform Your Decorating
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1. Cake Boss Decorating Tools Plastic Cake Decorating Turntable
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2. Kootek Aluminium Alloy Revolving Cake Stand
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3. Wilton Tilt-N-Turn Ultra Cake Turntable
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4. Ateco 612 Revolving Cake Decorating Stand
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5. Innovative Sugarworks Artists Cake Turntable Rotating Cake Stand
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1. Cake Boss Decorating Tools Plastic Cake Decorating Turntable – Best Display Stand Turntable
Our first decorating turntable is Cake Boss’s retro-inspired design. It’s a fun red and white color scheme, reminiscent of a 1950s kitchen. It’s made of lightweight plastic and features a locking switch to hold it steady. It turns in both directions.
Why We Like It
It has rubber gripped feet to keep the table steady on your counter or decorating table. Ball bearings cut down on noise and don’t need oil to continue to turn smoothly. The platform has a rubberized ring to keep layers steady even when smoothing frosting.
The design of the turntable features the phrase “I love frosting” right in the center, making it a fun, displayable cake stand. Decorate your cake and display it all on one tool.
Why To Doubt
It’s hand washable only, which is standard, but make sure you know what you’re getting into. We don’t necessarily love the feeling of plastic although it does cut down on weight if you’re using it as a display stand.
If you plan to use a cake board, that material doesn’t stick as well to the top. Be careful when manipulating the cake board or it could topple off the platform.
Who It’s For
You may not need or want to invest in a top of the line cake turntable just yet. This is a good budget option. It’s also a fun display stand if you’re doing double duty.
Pros:
- the design is attractive enough to display
- affordable
- lightweight
Cons:
- plastic isn’t the best feeling
- cake boards don’t stick to the platform
2. Kootek Aluminium Alloy Revolving Cake Stand – Best Kit
Our next cake stand is a heavy duty aluminum alloy. It feels durable with pleasant stability. It comes with several other decorating tools including a stainless steel comb and icing smoother, several different types of spatula, and various icing pattern tools.
Why We Like It
The non-slip surface and rubber feet, plus the weight of the aluminum alloy, give this turntable a very stable feeling. There’s almost no chance it will slide out from underneath you. It rotates in both directions smoothly and with very little noise.
The addition of some basic cake decorating tools is excellent for beginners who want to add some drama to icing jobs.
Why To Doubt
It’s pretty heavy. If you plan to use it as a display stand, we’d rethink that idea. There’s no locking mechanism to hold the cake in place, making it difficult for delicate decorating jobs and impossible to leave the cake for guests to serve themselves.
It’s a little more expensive, but not that much once you consider the tools you’re getting with it. Make sure you wipe it off with a soft cloth and don’t put it in the dishwasher.
Who It’s For
If you already have a cake stand you love, this turntable is a good option. It’s also suitable for beginners who don’t have the right tools yet, or for advanced bakers who need to upgrade or replace tools.
Pros:
- feels heavy and durable
- includes several different icing tools
- aluminum alloy is durable.
Cons:
- no locking mechanism
- impractical to use as a cake display stand
3. Wilton Tilt-N-Turn Ultra Cake Turntable – Best Tilting Turntable
Wilton’s Tilt-N-Turn is a plastic turntable with a weight balanced base. It turns in either direction and has a locking mechanism that prevents turning. It also adjusts the platform into 18 different angled positions. The rubber grips on the feet and platform keep things from sliding around.
Why We Like It
This turntable is an upgrade. If you’re doing more complex work, it’s really nice to angle the cake to make that easier.
The platform accommodates cake boards and plates bigger than the standard 12-inch diameter. You can adjust the angles no matter if you’re a left or right-handed decorator. It’s an upgrade from the standard rotating turntable.
It’s also an attractive display on its own.
Why To Doubt
The bearing track can wear out pretty easily, affecting the turning glide and increasing noise levels. It’s not professional grade, but it can stand in as an affordable alternative as you practice your new skills.
Who It’s For
Are you an intermediate cake decorator looking for something to facilitate more complex jobs? This is just the thing for you.
Pros:
- still affordable even though it has more functions than the traditional cake turntable
- locks into 18 different positions
- the attractive design works as a cake display stand
Cons:
- plastic doesn’t feel as durable
- bearings can wear out causing issues with the glide
4. Ateco 612 Revolving Cake Decorating Stand – Best Heavy Duty Option
Ateco’s cake turntable is a professional grade turntable with a smooth glide. It has a cast iron base to help with stability and an aluminum platform. It’s durable, attractive, and an upgrade for your cake decorating tools.
Why We Like It
Cast iron just feels more durable. You won’t worry about the base sliding around on you even when working with tricky icings. The powder coated finish is attractive and resists rust and uneven wear and tear.
The aluminum platform grips the cake with a patterned top. Again, you won’t worry about accidentally knocking the cake off the platform as you’re working.
Why To Doubt
It doesn’t have a locking mechanism, so you’ll have to hold the platform in place when doing detail work. It won’t work as a display stand for that reason either unless you need to be able to turn the cake at the display.
It’s all one piece, so cleaning may not be the most convenient. Make sure you don’t leave any wet spots or icing on the platform after use, or it may rust.
Who It’s For
Decorators who like the feeling of weighty materials, or who may be a little heavy handed, will appreciate the heft of this tool. It might be difficult to lift, but that just means it stays where you put it.
Pros:
- powder coated, cast iron base is durable
- it won’t ever slip away from you
- professional grade tool
Cons:
- no locking mechanism
- it’s cumbersome
5. Innovative Sugarworks Artists Cake Turntable Rotating Cake Stand – Best Professional Cake Turntable
Our final turntable is another professional grade turntable with a locking mechanism. It uses food grade aluminum for durability and stainless steel thrust bearing for a smooth spin that never hiccups.
Why We Like It
The red base is beautiful. Looks aren’t everything, but it’s still an eye-catching design.
Aside from the looks, the aluminum construction is heavy duty and doesn’t feel cheap like some plastic turntables. It won’t move from where you’ve put it, so you can work with trickier icing or have a heavier hand without worrying.
The tension key adjusts the rate of spin based on your preference or specific needs with each cake. The locking mechanism keeps everything still for detail work.
Why To Doubt
The trade-off with heavier materials is that they’re, well, heavy. It’s not going to be easy to move this thing around once you’ve got the cake situated on it.
It’s all one piece, so cleaning might be tricky. Just use a soft cloth to wipe it clean and make sure it’s dry. It’s prone to rust if you don’t follow cleaning rituals carefully.
Who It’s For
If you’re taking your decorating skills to the next level, this is an excellent option. It’s heavy, sturdy, and has a locking mechanism. Everything about it screams professional.
Things You Need to Know Before You Buy a Cake Decorating Turntable
There are a few things you should keep in mind when you’re choosing your cake turntable.
Height
The height of the pedestal can help ease the strain on your back and shoulders. If you work at the counter or a table, measure the height and then consider what you’d need in the pedestal. You shouldn’t be hunched over for long periods of time just to manipulate the icing, or you’re going to have problems with your back.
The height should also be suitable if you’re planning to use the cake turntable as a display stand. Too tall and it can topple over as guests cut off slices. Too short and it won’t lend itself to display. Consider your needs accordingly.
Materials
Plastic is an excellent beginner’s material because it’s lightweight and highly affordable. Plastic cleans up well and never rusts. Many plastic turntables have a detachable platform that can go straight to the top rack of the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
The downside to plastic is that it’s not always sturdy. If you’ve got a heavy hand when you’re decorating, you may accidentally send the turntable sliding across the counter. Also, it doesn’t have the feeling of professional grade decorating tools.
Aluminum and cast iron feel really heavy and durable. You won’t risk sliding the cake stand around even if you’re heavy handed. Neither material will crack or break even after years of use.
The downside to metal materials is the possibility of rust. If you don’t follow proper cleaning protocols, you may find rust on your surfaces. Many of them don’t have a removable platform, and even if they did, they wouldn’t be dishwasher safe.
They’re also very heavy to move. If you’ve got weakness in your wrists or arms, they may prove impractical for your decorating career.
Locking Mechanisms And Adjustments
Locking mechanisms keep the platform still when you don’t want it to turn. These are good for detail work or for displaying the cake directly on the turntable later. They’re very convenient, but sometimes they add an extra expense or an extra piece that can break.
If you do a lot of top work, an angled base can also help you get all the details correct. Some turntables have mechanisms that allow the base to lock into an angled position to make that decorating more comfortable.
Again, this may add an extra expense, or it could be something that fails on you later as the hinges and locking mechanisms wear out. Also, if you only do basic decorating, it may not be necessary.
Grips
Both the bottom of the turntable and possibly the platform should have some kind of rubber grip to keep the cake from sliding. If you plan to use cake boards underneath your cake, you may want a platform with rubber grips to keep the board still.
If you don’t use cake boards, a simple textured platform will suffice. You need for the platform to grip but not tear the delicate cake bottom.
If your turntable is plastic, grips on the foot of the pedestal are essential. Plastic slides easily and you don’t want to continually adjust the position of your turntable as you’re in the middle of decorating.
FAQs
Is a cake turntable necessary?
Yes, a turntable is a necessary tool for filling and frosting a cake with ease and also to keep your frosting in an even pattern. When you are learning how to decorate or design a cake, this one piece of equipment you’ll see in every video tutorial.
Can you use a Lazy Susan as a cake turntable?
Yes. You can use a lazy susan as a substitute for a turntable. It is less expensive compared to turntables but it is shorter and it doesn’t have a locking mechanism that can keep the cake steady in place.
Do cake turntables make noise while spinning?
No. Turntables noise while spinning is barely noticeable. There are few that have a smooth ball bearing for an ultra-smooth rotation while being noiseless. You can fix a noisy turntable by cleaning the ball bearings and applying a small amount of oil or grease.
Final Thoughts
Cake turntables are about to make your decorating life so much easier. No more climbing on the counter, dislocating your elbow, whispering magic incantations just to have even icing and consistent details.
If you don’t have a lot to invest, that’s ok. We’ve got several affordable turntables you can buy before you decide if you want to invest in professional grade. They’ll all deliver results, and you finally get icing that looks good no matter what side is facing forward. Happy decorating!
How long have you been decorating cakes? What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to get even icing? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
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