The purpose of baking soda in the caramel is to react with the acid (the brown sugar and corn syrup), which creates tiny carbon dioxide air bubbles. … Once the caramel has cooled on your popcorn, the air bubbles inside the caramel create a softer texture.
What does baking soda do in candy making?
By adding baking soda to the sugar syrup, you unleash a zillion minuscule air bubbles that give the candy a porous, delicate texture. Butter also helps to make the candy tender and easier to chew, as well as adding its own rich flavor.
What happens if you don’t add baking soda?
If you don’t have baking soda, you can use baking powder, at three times what the recipe calls for. So if a recipe calls for one teaspoon of baking soda, you can use three teaspoons of baking powder.
How do you make caramel crispy again?
How do you make caramel popcorn crispy?
- Heat oven to 200°F.
- Place popcorn in large roasting pan or jelly roll pan.
- Bake for 30-60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. If you cook for closer to 60 minutes, keep an eye on it towards the end to avoid burning the caramel.
How do you make caramel less sticky?
To fix this, add in a pinch of baking soda while the mixture is cooking, and prevent it in the future by making sure the mixture boils continuously. When the caramel mixture reaches the right temperature, it becomes thick and glossy and requires constant stirring.
Why is my homemade peanut brittle chewy?
Baking soda is a key ingredient in making homemade brittle. When you add peanut brittle to the sugary syrup, it lets out tons of air bubbles (don’t worry…they are tiny!) and it is what gives the candy such a light, airy texture. Don’t skip it! Without baking soda, the brittle will be hard and chewy.
Why is my peanut brittle cloudy?
The most likely reason your peanut brittle turned sticky is because you didn’t cook it long enough. Peanut brittle has to reach the hard-crack stage, which means that strands of sugar break easily and feel dry, not sticky. … Storing peanut brittle in the fridge or freezer also can alter its texture.
Can you use corn starch instead of baking soda?
Baking soda and corn starch are not interchangeable in recipes because they have completely different purposes in cooking. Cornstarch is typically used as a thickening agent in sauces and soups, while baking soda is a leavening agent that will help baked goods rise.
Can I use vinegar instead of baking soda?
In fact, the acidic pH of vinegar is perfect for use as a substitute for baking powder. Vinegar has a leavening effect when paired with baking soda in cakes and cookies. Though any type of vinegar will work, white vinegar has the most neutral taste and won’t alter the color of your final product.
Can you leave baking soda out of cookies?
If you’re fresh out of baking soda, just replace the amount of baking soda with four times the amount of double-acting baking powder (2 tsp. baking powder for every 1/2 tsp. … Yes, really—baking soda has four times the leavening power of baking powder. Pro Tip: There is sometimes a bit of salt in baking powder.
How do you make old popcorn crispy again?
How to Revive Stale Popcorn. The easiest way to refresh leftover popcorn is to toss it in the oven to warm it up and re-crisp it. Simply spread it out in an even layer on a baking sheet and place it in a 250°F oven for about five minutes, until it’s warmed through.
Why is my homemade caramel corn chewy?
Once the caramel has cooled on your popcorn, the air bubbles inside the caramel create a softer texture. The softer texture means you won’t be biting into hard caramel. Rather, the caramel is chewy and only slightly crunchy. It will melt in your mouth.
What causes grainy caramel?
Grainy caramel is caused by crystallization, which is easy to avoid (and can also be fixed). Caramel becomes grainy when the sugars crystallize, a process that happens when the melted sugar splashes up onto the cold sides of the pan. … Instead, swirl the pan gently to help the sugar melt evenly.
What do you do with caramel that didn’t set?
If caramels are too hard, you can try placing them back in a saucepan, adding a couple tablespoons of water and stirring until the thermometer reads 242°F. Pour back into a prepared buttered pan. If caramels are too soft, that means the temperature didn’t get high enough.
Why is my caramel not thickening?
If the caramel is too thin, simmer the caramel on medium heat for 5-10 minutes to thicken it (the caramel will not continue to darken). Keep in mind that the caramel will thicken significantly once cool. Likewise, if the caramel is too thick, thin by stirring a tablespoon or two of heavy cream.
How do you keep caramel from hardening?
To help prevent the caramel from crystallizing, you can add an acid to the sugar before you begin: add about half a tablespoon of lemon juice to each cup of sugar and mix it with your hands; it should be the consistency of wet sand.