If youve ever made candy at home you know that a good thermometer is indispensable. Whether youre making nougat, gummies, or a simple caramel sauce from scratch, you need to measure exactly how hot your sugar is to achieve the perfect consistency. But if youve worked with sugar at home, you also know that clean up is the pits. Caramel can set up on your pans, spoons, and — yes, your thermometer. But theres a simple way to clean hardened sugar off your kitchen tools, and it involves nothing more than boiling water.
Luckily, the hardest caramel will liquify under the right conditions. If youve got a hard, crusty sugar residue on your thermometer you can simply boil it off in a pot of water. If youre using a candy thermometer, these will clip onto the side of the pot in which you made your candy. You can kill two birds with one stone by simply leaving the thermometer attached to the dirty pot, and filling the pot with water (being sure to submerge the thermometer) to remove the hardened, sticky sugar from both.
Not all kitchen thermometers are the same; a regular candy thermometer not only attaches to the side of the pot youre using but will often have guides written between temperatures to tell you where your sugar consistency stands. If youre using a basic kitchen thermometer, it usually has a simple probe. This is normally used to stick into meat or baked goods while still making the gauge available to view — and honestly, this makes cleaning a whole lot simpler.
If youre using a probing thermometer, you can use the same basic idea to clean hardened sugar off. If running the probe under hot water doesnt get the residue off, simply boil water and place the thermometer probe in it for a minute or two. Its important to do this immediately after using, so that the sugar doesnt have time to set up further. Also, you cant usually submerge a digital thermometer in water, so youll have to hold it. But this also means it gets less messy when youre boiling the sugar. Its absolutely worth using a thermometer in the kitchen for all manner of things, so if youre not already the owner of one you may want to reconsider.
Just submerge the thermometer in a pan of water and let it sit. Soon, the water will dissolve the sugar and the thermometer will be clean. If you are using a digital thermometer, just submerge the bulb/probe in water, not the whole thing.
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. 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.
Candy (also know as deep-fry thermometers) are readily available in houseware stores and almost every supermarket in the states. So there’s no reason to be wary of them as some baking, and candy making projects really do require the use of one. But sometimes recipes don’t turn out as intended and although candy making is famously persnickety (factors such as the temperature of ingredients, weather, and variations in ingredients, like various chocolates, butters, and sugars can affect the results) many candy making issues can be resolved by verifying the accuracy of your thermometer.
To do this, simply clip the thermometer to the side of the pan, making sure the bulb isn’t in contact with the bottom, then add water and bring the water to a full boil. Do not plunge a thermometer into boiling water since the extreme temperature shock can cause it to break.
If using one of those probe-type digital thermometers, make sure the tip of the probe isn’t touching the bottom of the pan if testing it, or if using it for candy making. I blew my first one out because the tip of the probe was touching the bottom of the pot while I was boiling a sugar syrup, which ruined the thermometer.
-It’s best to hand wash thermometers since dishwashers can knock them around and throw them out of whack. Strong detergents can also wear down the numbers, too.
Luckily, the hardest caramel will liquify under the right conditions. If youve got a hard, crusty sugar residue on your thermometer you can simply boil it off in a pot of water. If youre using a candy thermometer, these will clip onto the side of the pot in which you made your candy. You can kill two birds with one stone by simply leaving the thermometer attached to the dirty pot, and filling the pot with water (being sure to submerge the thermometer) to remove the hardened, sticky sugar from both.
Not all kitchen thermometers are the same; a regular candy thermometer not only attaches to the side of the pot youre using but will often have guides written between temperatures to tell you where your sugar consistency stands. If youre using a basic kitchen thermometer, it usually has a simple probe. This is normally used to stick into meat or baked goods while still making the gauge available to view — and honestly, this makes cleaning a whole lot simpler.
If youre using a probing thermometer, you can use the same basic idea to clean hardened sugar off. If running the probe under hot water doesnt get the residue off, simply boil water and place the thermometer probe in it for a minute or two. Its important to do this immediately after using, so that the sugar doesnt have time to set up further. Also, you cant usually submerge a digital thermometer in water, so youll have to hold it. But this also means it gets less messy when youre boiling the sugar. Its absolutely worth using a thermometer in the kitchen for all manner of things, so if youre not already the owner of one you may want to reconsider.
If youve ever made candy at home you know that a good thermometer is indispensable. Whether youre making nougat, gummies, or a simple caramel sauce from scratch, you need to measure exactly how hot your sugar is to achieve the perfect consistency. But if youve worked with sugar at home, you also know that clean up is the pits. Caramel can set up on your pans, spoons, and — yes, your thermometer. But theres a simple way to clean hardened sugar off your kitchen tools, and it involves nothing more than boiling water.
Tips for Using the World’s Best Candy Thermometer
FAQ
What is the best way to clean a candy thermometer?
How deep does a candy thermometer need to be?
Can you use a candy thermometer for water?
Do candy thermometers have mercury?
How do you remove sticky candy from a thermometer?
Fortunately, there’s a very simple trick to remove sticky candy! Just submerge the thermometer in a pan of water and let it sit. Soon, the water will dissolve the sugar and the thermometer will be clean. If you are using a digital thermometer, just submerge the bulb/probe in water, not the whole thing.
Do you need a thermometer to make candy?
For making candy, I highly recommend getting a thermometer with a timer. This will allow you to “multi-task” and do other preparatory work while monitoring heating temperatures. Some digital thermometers even come with alarms to alert you when a certain temperature has been reached.
What is a candy thermometer?
A candy thermometer, sometimes called a “candy/deep fry thermometer,” is a type of thermometer specifically designed to measure high cooking temperatures, like the temperature of boiling sugar. Many of the most popular homemade candies start by cooking sugar to a high temperature.
Should you use a sugar thermometer or a candy thermometer?
The readings are usually more accurate and instant as well. If it has a pointy probe and an internal reading of meat is required, a sugar thermometer is fine to use. Candy thermometers are a cooking tool that you need to have in your kitchen at all times.