Plastic or Metal? Any Bakers Out There

I prefer metal for bread that is already cooked. I don't find much of a difference in the raw materials, other then I just prefer metal. (With the handles on top, that you can push down!) The edge makes a cleaner shape, I've found.

Plastic. Unless you get the pricey copper ones, they tend to rust. Also all metal ones need to be handwashed (really sucks when you have cutters with nooks and crannies) and they tend to bend easily (especially when used by the not so gentle hands of kids).
So unless you are getting some high end cutters that you will spend time and energy taking care of, get the plastic ones.

Either is fine, but make sure they are new (to prevent cross-contamination) and they aren't the kind that are solid (so you can reach through the back and push the cookie dough though if needed... also the ones with the solid backs stick horribly!)

Don't give up- it took me three years to make edible cut-out cookies gluten-free! It takes practice and patience (and some crying when you have to throw out failures.)

One good thing about the metal ones is that you can cook the dough with the cutter still attached to the dough, if your cookies tend to spread (much like you would use an english muffin ring.)

Wetting the cutter between each cookie, oiling it, or flouring it does help. Water is a great thing in g/f cooking- wet hands help smooth out bread dough, etc. I have also found that we rarely need a rolling pin (they stick!) just parchment (sometimes oiled) and the palms of your hands to squish and flatten the dough.

Hope this helps! I have a food blog here, if you're interested:
www.chickiepea.wordpress.com

I have discovered that if you find that your cookies won't come out of the cutter to gently put the cutter in flour to coat the inside and the cookie will come out.

I like the metal ones (something from my youth). There are designs in plastic that are not in the metal. So sometimes I have to give in.

Enjoy your adventures into baking. Who knows you might take to it and become the next Cake Boss.

The other S.

No difference. The cheaper metal ones can rust, so sometimes you have to rub some oil on them before you store them.

I don't have a preference for one over the other but I have found that no matter what you use to make sure it is easy to remove the item just in case it sticks in the cutter.

I have never really found any difference.

I prefer the metal ones. The sides are a little thinner than plastic so I think it cuts through the dough easier. But really, doesn't make that much difference.