How to Caramelize Sugar

When you caramelize sugar, you essentially create a caramel with a syrupy consistency. Use these steps to caramelize sugar like a professional chef.

Things You'll Need

• Sugar
• Pan

Instructions

1. Use a small, clean, dry saucepan. You can use non-stick or stainless as long as the pan is clean and dry.

2. Start with white granulated sugar until you know what you are doing. Put a half-cup of sugar in the pan and stir slightly to allow the sugar to rest in an even layer on the bottom of the pan.

3. Turn the burner on to medium heat. If you are using gas, you should watch the sugar closely, as gas cooks hotter than electric heat.

4. Add a little water to the pan and stir constantly with a wooden spoon. You can include anything you typically use with candy making in this process. Keep scraping down the sides of the pan to keep the sugar cooking consistently.

5. Stir the mixture until it reaches a boil. Swirl the pan around to keep the syrup moving until it begins to turn amber brown.

6. Take the pan from the heat just before it has reached the desired color. If you are making a dark brown caramel or are worried about over-cooking, put the pan in an ice bath after removing it from the burner. This will stop the cooking process immediately.

Tips & Warnings

• .

• Never leave the pan unattended for even a second. The sugar can burn instantly and will become a gooey, odorous mess.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish