How to Use a Candy Thermometer

By eHow Food & Drink Editor

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Candy making relies on precise timing during the cooking process. A candy thermometer is your best guarantee that your candy will be the right consistency after cooking. Remember to follow your recipe exactly and use your thermometer as directed.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Step1
Do a test to be sure your thermometer is accurate. Let it stand in boiling water for 10 minutes. If the thermometer doesn't read 212 degrees F, you need to figure the difference and add or subtract to make the temperature measurements correct for your candy.
Step2
Gather the ingredients for your candy recipe.
Step3
Follow the recipe as directed until you get to the cooking stage.
Step4
Cook the candy as directed. Some recipes will give you a temperature to aim for, while others may use one of the following terms: "thread," "soft ball," "medium ball," "firm ball," "hard ball," "very hard ball," "light (or soft) crack," "hard crack" or "caramelized sugar" stages. The temperatures for some or most of these terms should be indicated on your candy thermometer.
Step5
Place the candy thermometer in the pan with the cooking candy. Be sure the bulb of the thermometer never touches the bottom of the pan, or the temperature will register too high. You want to find out the temperature of the candy mixture, not of the pan.
Step6
Continue to cook the candy until it reaches the desired temperature.
Step7
Remove the candy thermometer (be careful - it will be hot) and follow the recipe to complete the candy making.

Tips & Warnings

  • Some cooks say you will have better results with candy if you don't try to make it on a rainy day, when air pressure is low.
  • Candy thermometers can also be used to measure temperatures when deep-frying or when making jelly.
  • Although there are several different styles of candy thermometers, most cooks like the rectangular metal ones with the thermometer encased in the metal frame. With this design, the thermometer bulb will not touch the bottom of the pan even if you rest the thermometer in the pan.
  • If your thermometer doesn't list common temperatures (soft ball, etc.), see the Candy Thermometer Accuracy Web page, under Related Sites.
  • Children should be closely supervised when around hot pans or boiling candy mixtures.

Comments

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surica925

surica925 said

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on 2/6/2007 this article tells me nothing about the different stages of the candy thermometer. like what is the syrup stage, hard candy stage soft candy stage, soft crack stage, hard crack stage and what are the tempertures that meet these stages. ie hard crack stage 312 degrees.

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eHow Article: How to Use a Candy Thermometer

eHow Food & Drink Editor

eHow Food & Drink Editor

Category: Food & Drink

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