Boil the water for at least 10 minutes and note the temperature. Soft-Ball Stage is 235 F to 240 F (118 C to 120 C) It saves time, you don't have to handle the hot syrup as much – which means fewer chances to burn yourself – and you'll get finer temperature control for the recipes that need it. No you cannot use a regular thermometer because the temperature guage does not go up as high as a candy thermometer. When you first start cooking up your sugar, essentially all you've got is a syrup. For every 500 feet you are above sea level the boiling point will approximately be decreased by 1 F. A candy thermometer measures … Ideally you would have an instant read thermometer that handles candy making temperatures, so you have one thermometer. You really have to watch the whole time because sometimes the temp increases very slowly and ssometimes it increases very rapidly. The ball will hold its shape in your hand but it is still flexiable enough that you squish it easily.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhGe_WajFkg, Soft Crack Stage is 270 F to 290 F (135 C to 145 C) You don't even need a thermometer or the cold water test to make the first two. When following a candy recipe add the amount of the difference to the temperature the recipe calls for. At this point there's nothing more to learn from rolling the sugar into a ball, partly because it won't squish and partly because you'd have trouble actually forming a ball. That's the hard-ball stage, and it's what you want for homemade marshmallows or a really chewy toffee. You can now making candy even if you do not own a candy thermometer. Many candy thermometers aren't instant read. I have burnt my syrup before too. Just Bing or Google "Candy thermometer" (use the quotes). You don't need a candy thermometer to make your favorite sweets. 9 years ago That's the soft-crack stage, which is what you want for popcorn balls and taffy apples. I have both. If after 10 minutes your thermometer does not read 212 F (100 C) note the difference. 1 part water Water, at sea level, will boil at 212° F (100° C). It promises to be very easy to use and clean. A tall traditional style … Polder THM-515 Stainless Steel Candy Fry Thermometer. 17% off. For eaxmple my water boiled at 211 F so when I make candy I make sure my candy reaches 1 degree higher that the temperature called for in the recipe. Hard Crack Stage is 300 F to 310 F (150 C to 155 C) 99 $22.99 $22.99. On average they will range from -40 all the way to 450 degrees F, You can also use an oil thermometer instead of a candy thermometer sine the temperatures needed for both can be very high. That's because sugar behaves in specific ways at specific temperatures. Spread the chocolate into an even layer, and top with whatever you like - I've topped mine with Heath chocolate toffee bits, but this would be great with chopped almonds or pecans. Polder has been in the business of making … If you do have a thermometer you need to test its accuracy. OKRAD / Getty Images. I'm trying to make caramel frosting for a cake (using only sugar, corn syrup, milk, heavy cream, vanilla and butter) but do not have a candy thermometer. I know dairy one has capacity to read temperature till 220 and a candy thermometer can read till 400 or so. If you plan to make candy a lot, consider investing a little more money in a quality, just as you would with any kitchen utensil you use often. With all of these problems, it’s a wonder people still use these old candy thermometers. Soft Crack Stage: The bubbles on the top of the syrup become smaller, thicker and much closer together. Some candies require you to cook the sugar to an even higher temperature. I'll check your other Instructables, and hopefully fare better next time. You can actually hear a crack when the syrup hits the cold water. Apple Jellies Candy https://www.instructables.com/id/Apples-Jellies-Candy/ 4.5 out of 5 stars 56. ;), Reply Peanut Butter Candy https://www.instructables.com/id/Fast-Peanut-Butter-Candy/ On average they will range from -40 all the way to 450 degrees F, You can also use an oil thermometer instead of a candy thermometer sine the temperatures needed for both can be very high. The Cold Water Test can also be used along with a thermometer for the most accurate results. The higher the temperature the sugar syrup reached the harder the mixture will be after it cools. He was educated at Memorial University of Newfoundland and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. Can a Infrared Thermometer Replace a Candy Thermometer? No you cannot use a regular thermometer because the temperature guage does not go up as high as a candy thermometer. Tosca M White/Getty Images. Some instant-read models may measure temps high enough to make candy, but most oven-safe meat thermometers are designed to accurately measure the range of temperatures that occur when cooking meat. View entire discussion (2 comments) In fact, when you think about it, grilling meat or fish to the right point require far savvier than simply reading the numbers on a thermometer. That's the firm-ball stage, which is what you want for caramels and other soft-but-chewy candies. A meat thermometer can also be used in place of a candy/sugar thermometer. My Peanut Brittle Turned Out Sticky, What Can I Do. Many can’t go above 200 degrees, which isn’t hot enough to work with sugary confections. These thermometers can also be used to measure hot oil for deep frying.. There are many wonderful candy recipes including some of mine I have posted on Instructables: Candy thermometers can also be used to measure temperatures when deep-frying or when making jelly. You'll be able to gather them together and roll them into a ball that holds its shape in the water, but flattens easily between your fingers. When you're using a thermometer, you know it'll show a certain consistency, because it's reached a given temperature. Polder THM-515 Candy/Jelly/Deep Fry Thermometer. Then … The syrup (candy mixture) I am using to show the Cold Water Test is a simple syrup. Because sugar can burn easily, you’ll need to work quickly. (Best Ruler-Like Steel) Wilton traditional steel thermometer is 14.7-inch … Meat thermometers have a lower temperature range than that of a candy thermometer—most go up to 200°F. When you're ready to test your candy, scoop up a small amount on a spoon and drop it in a glass of cold water. Because this is a tradition thermometer, there are no batteries to replace. The Norpro Candy Thermometer is a stainless steel built gadget that is … Candy (also know as deep-fry thermometers) are readily available in houseware stores and almost every supermarket in the states. Highlighted Features. With oil or water that doesn't make a huge difference but with candy making needing finer windows of temperature I would say it's probably not your best option. Prices can range from $12 for a simple thermometer to $35 for a digital thermometer. If a recipe reads to bring the syrup to 235 F I will wait until my thermometer reads at least 236 F.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crE3xb0lWRw. All in all, if you decide to make your own treats at home on a regular basis, it's best to buy a decent candy thermometer and use it. Easy Decorated Marshmallows https://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-Decorated-Marshmallows-Taste-like-Peeps/ First bring a pot of water to a boil and add your thermometer. on Introduction. Soft ball: Using a clean spoom, when a small amount of syrup dropped into chilled water it forms a soft, flexible ball. Once the mixture is clear, all of the sugar is dissolved and you have simple syrup. They have a metal clip used to attach them to the side of a pan, so you don’t have to hold it in place. You can deal with that by working with a lower burner, but it's still a risk. Please know that the parchment paper called for is an absolute necessity unless you want to scrape hard candy off your cookie sheet for … It'll obviously depend on the quality of the thermometer but my relatively cheap version is probably somewhere between 5-6F off at any given reading. A friend once told me that the one word which terrifies people, enough to dissuade them from tackling a recipe, was the word “thermometer.” Candy making generally requires the use of a thermometer and I’m not sure why people get uneasy around thermometers because like kitchen scales, when things are in precise measurements – like degrees, pounds, or grams – it’s pretty straightforward. If your sugar is between 270 F and 290 F, the threads will bend before they break. If your meat thermometer can read that high at least you know it has the temperature range. In fact, all you need is this handy guide and a bowl of cold water. It is easiest to make candy by using a candy thermometer but you can also use the Cold Water Test. Recipes call this the soft-ball stage, and it lasts until you get up to about 240 F. That's how far fudge is usually cooked. Candy/Sugar thermometers are also used to measure hot oil for deep frying. When you're using the cold-water test, you'll know you've reached the right temperature when the candy reaches a given consistency. 2 part sugar English Toffee https://www.instructables.com/id/English-Toffee/ There are tons of sites that sell them. Obviously, when making candy, a thermometer needs to be able to read a much higher temperature than a thermometer that only reads meat temperatures. You don’t want to spend so much time fiddling with the thermometer that you can’t pay attention to the sugar solution. The ball is very soft, hence the name soft ball stage.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lchea5BHbgs, Hard Ball Stage is 250 F to 265 F (125 C to 133 C) Image zoom. Simple syrup is great for lemonade, cocktails, sweetening your ice tea, in ice cream/sorbet making and many other uses. https://thedomesticrebel.com/2015/12/08/no-thermometer-needed-easy-toffee Old cookbooks and magazine recipes can be a lot of fun: For instance, you won't find many modern chicken recipes that start with plucking the chicken. If you can't find a candy thermometer in your city, check online. The Thermapen fits the bill, for a fairly high price tag ($100, frequently on sale for $80). All in all, if you decide to make your own treats at home on a regular basis, it's best to buy a decent candy thermometer and use it. Here’s why…. A classic example is candymaking, which requires you to cook the candy to a specific temperature. The firmness of the sugar indicates the highest temperature the syrup reached. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crE3xb0lWRw, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lchea5BHbgs, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhGe_WajFkg, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j-lhRu_Xns, https://www.instructables.com/id/Apples-Jellies-Candy/, https://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-Decorated-Marshmallows-Taste-like-Peeps/, https://www.instructables.com/id/Fast-Peanut-Butter-Candy/, https://www.instructables.com/id/English-Toffee/, Yummy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Brownies. (See Candy making for a description of sugar stages.) I'm not sure if there is anything comparable at a much lower price. Candy and deep-frying thermometers are made of glass and are used for measuring much hotter temperatures. Be careful as I poked myself in the video. This can seem kind of slapdash and haphazard, but it's surprisingly reliable. Quickly examine and/or carefully pick up the sugar from the cold water. There are tons of sites that sell them. Can I use any Thermometer for Candy? The so-called "cold-water method" is an easy way to estimate the temperature of your candy: Generations of cooks and candy makers have relied on this trick to make all types of candies, from fudge to toffee . Difference between dairy thermometer and candy thermometer What is the real difference between a dairy thermometer and a candy thermometer? ThermoPro TP01A Instant Read Digital Thermometer. Make sure the bottom of the thermometer is not resting on the bottom of the pot or your results not be as accurate. Candy or deep-frying thermometers measure the much higher temperatures usually associated with these cooking techniques, up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius). A candy thermometer, also known as a sugar thermometer, or jam thermometer is a cooking thermometer used to measure the temperature and therefore the stage of a cooking sugar solution. The mixture will start out cloudy. A candy thermometer, also known as a sugar thermometer, or jam thermometer is a cooking thermometer used to measure the temperature and therefore the stage of a cooking sugar solution. Here is another versatile digital thermometer … This handy kitchen tool resembles a pointed stick attached to a dial that contains the temperature. Good luck and I am glad you found my I instructable helpful. So go out and make some candy!!!  Hard ball: Using a clean spoon when the syrup is dropped into cold water it may be formed into a hard ball. At 250 F to 265 F, the ball won't flatten at all. Did you make this project? Then pick up the resulting blob and see what it looks and feels like. Are you looking for a thermometer that is especially versatile? Candy or deep-frying thermometers measure the much higher temperatures usually associated with these cooking techniques, up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius). The meat thermometer is really ultra fast - it shows the temperature almost immediately and seems very accurate. Modern recipes take for granted that you'll use a thermometer and give you a set temperature, whereas older recipes rely on you to test the candy as you go. $18.99 $ 18. A very nice Maverick digital thermometer is available from Amazon for around $20. Once you take the syrup out of the cold water you can feel how brittle and sharp it is. So the second time around, I took the temp up to 302 F. (hard crack stage) using a candy thermometer and it did much better. 9 years ago By contrast, most meat products need only to be heated to a temperature between 63 and 77 degrees Celsius (145 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit).