How to Modify a Large SmartCanister
Removing the cover over the auger helps ingredients that jam, tunnel, or feed slowly — powdered ingredients most of all.
For non-validated ingredients — and even some validated ones — you may have a more successful dispensing experience by modifying your Large canister. Regular chocolate chips (instead of the mini size) are one example. Powdered ingredients — cocoa powder, confectioners' sugar — can tunnel over the auger instead of feeding into it, and a modified canister helps them too. Brown sugar isn't on the validated list, due to its consistency and potential for jamming, but it works quite well with a modified canister — and we now recommend doing this for your powdered sugar canister too.
You'll need a Phillips-head screwdriver and a food grade sealant, to assure the canister stays airtight once the screws are removed.
Remove the lid and flip the canister over.
With a Phillips-head screwdriver, remove the 4 screws around the dispensing hole — these hold the cover over the auger in place.
Flip the canister back over and remove the cover that sits over the middle auger. (You may have to squeeze it a bit to remove it between the augers.)
Flip the canister back over (upside down), with a newspaper or paper towel under it, and fill the 4 holes where you removed the screws with the sealant — approximately 4 drops in each hole. This will dry in a matter of seconds.
From here, you are all set!
Keep in mind
- For non-validated ingredients, enter the quantity desired in weight increments (g, kg, oz, lbs).
- Do not overfill your canister — heavy ingredients like brown sugar may prevent the motor from turning the augers. If the motor is struggling, or the canister is lifting slightly, put some pressure on the top of the canister to hold it in place while dispensing. (It will not damage your system.)
- The cover that is removed is there to minimize spillage — removing it may cause more frequent spillage upon affixing the canister to the base unit.
- Please note: once you modify a canister, it can no longer be returned.
Removing the auger cover on a Small SmartCanister
For powdered ingredients in a Small SmartCanister, first make sure the shaker ball is sitting on top of the auger — that handles most powdered ingredients. If you want the auger cover off entirely, the Small canister's cover has a little latch: turn the latch halfway and pull the cover off. No tools, and nothing to seal.
See the full list of what dispenses best in each canister on our Ingredient List.