In a high-sided saucepan over medium-high heat, bring cold water and sugar to a boil. Turn the heat to low and stir constantly until the sugar dissolves completely and the mixture is clear, approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Remember – the longer you boil it, the thicker the syrup will be when cooled.
Do you have to boil sugar water?
Heat the water first, before adding the sugar. Heating the sugar and water together won’t ruin the syrup — it just takes longer to heat. It’s not necessary to bring the water to a boil. Once the sugar is dissolved, let the syrup cool.
How long does it take to boil sugar to 300 degrees?
Just put your candy thermometer in the pan and watch for it to rise to 300 degrees. It takes about 10 minutes from the time it starts to really boil. After it’s reached 300 degrees, remove it from the heat and add whatever flavor you want, stirring constantly then add food coloring.
How do you boil sugar?
Place water, sugar and cream of tartar in pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly with a whisk. As the syrup comes to a boil, any impurities in the sugar will rise to the surface; remove these using a small stainless steel sieve or strainer.
What happens when you boil sugar water?
As a sugar syrup is cooked, water boils away, the sugar concentration increases, and the temperature rises. The highest temperature that the sugar syrup reaches tells you what the syrup will be like when it cools. … That means that when you drop a bit of it into cold water to cool it down, it will form a soft ball.
Does water boil faster with salt or sugar?
Dissolved solids like salt and sugar will in fact increase the boiling point of water, causing it to come to a boil more slowly, but the effect is minimal (the amounts normally used in cooking effect less than a 1 degree change).
What temp is hard ball stage?
Sugar stages
| Stage | Temperature | Sugar concentration |
|---|---|---|
| thread (e.g., syrup) | 110 to 112 °C (230 to 234 °F) | 80% |
| soft ball (e.g., fudge) | 112 to 116 °C (234 to 241 °F) | 85% |
| firm ball (e.g., soft caramel candy) | 118 to 120 °C (244 to 248 °F) | 87% |
| hard ball (e.g., nougat) | 121 to 130 °C (250 to 266 °F) | 90% |
How can you tell if candy is 300 degrees?
Step 6: Hard Crack Stage 300 F (150 C)
Hard Crack: With a clean spoon, when the syrup dropped into ice water it separates into hard, brittle threads that break when bent. You can actually hear a crack when the syrup hits the cold water.
How do you know when syrup is ready?
Place some syrup in a spoon and let it drip away in the saucepan. When the syrup flows away easily, it means it is still watery and not ready. Continue boiling until the flow separates into drops. When a final drop remains hanging from the spoon, it means that the density is right and the syrup is ready.
How can you tell soft ball stage without a thermometer?
To check your sugar syrup has reached the correct stage without using a sugar thermometer, place a bowl of very cold water next to the hob. Using a clean spoon, carefully take a little of the syrup and drop it into the bowl of cold water. Leave to cool for a moment then pick up the ball of syrup.
Can I boil sugar?
In a high-sided saucepan over medium-high heat, bring cold water and sugar to a boil. Turn the heat to low and stir constantly until the sugar dissolves completely and the mixture is clear, approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Remember – the longer you boil it, the thicker the syrup will be when cooled.
What happens if you cook sugar?
Caramelizing Sugar. When high heat is applied to sugar it begins to discompose and become a liquid. When sugar is heated even further it begins to turn darker in color and tastes nuttier in flavor. This process is called caramelization and is the basic process used to start many candy recipes and dessert sauces.
Does sugar dissolve more easily in hot water or cold water?
Sugar dissolves faster in hot water than it does in cold water because hot water has more energy than cold water. When water is heated, the molecules gain energy and, thus, move faster. As they move faster, they come into contact with the sugar more often, causing it to dissolve faster.
Why is my hard candy not clear?
The simple answer is that there is too much moisture in your candy. One or more factors could be contributing to this problem. In hard candy making, it is important to cook all the water out of the sugar/corn syrup/water mixture.
Why do people put sugar in water?
Sugar water gives our bodies a quick energy boost.
Sucrose, the sugar molecule found in most store-bought table sugars, has been found to have a faster absorption rate than other types of sugars.