Soft-ball stage refers to a specific temperature range when cooking sugar syrups, occurring between 235 and 245 F. In addition to using a candy thermometer, this stage can be determined by dropping a spoonful of hot syrup into a bowl of very cold water.
How long does it take to cook to soft ball stage?
Allow the temperature to rise on the thermometer until it stops, approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
What is soft ball stage?
As a sugar syrup is cooked, water boils away, the sugar concentration increases, and the temperature rises. … For example, at 235° F, the syrup is at the “soft-ball” stage. That means that when you drop a bit of it into cold water to cool it down, it will form a soft ball.
How do you determine soft ball stage?
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. If it’s pliable, sticky and can be moulded in your fingers easily, it has reached the soft ball stage and the syrup can be used to make fudge and marzipan.
What is the soft ball test?
Soft-Ball Stage is a cooking term meaning that a sugar syrup being heated has reached 112 – 116 C (234 – 240 F.) It is a test of how hot a sugar syrup is, and of how much water is left in it. … You test by drizzling a small amount of the sugar syrup from a spoon into a cup of cold water.
What temperature is soft crack stage?
Sugar stages
| Stage | Temperature | Sugar concentration |
|---|---|---|
| soft crack (e.g., salt water taffy) | 132 to 143 °C (270 to 289 °F) | 95% |
| hard crack (e.g., toffee) | 146 to 154 °C (295 to 309 °F) | 99% |
| clear liquid | 160 °C (320 °F) | 100% |
| brown liquid (e.g., liquid caramel) | 170 °C (338 °F) | 100% |
What temperature is firm ball stage?
If the candy forms a firm but not hard ball, it is in the firm ball stage. The temperature of this stage is between 242° — 248°F. Caramels are cooked to the firm ball stage.
What causes fudge not to harden?
Under- or overcooking the sugar
The amount of time you cook fudge directly affects its firmness. Too little time and the water won’t evaporate, causing the fudge to be soft. Conversely, cook it too long and fudge won’t contain enough water, making it hard with a dry, crumbly texture.
Should you Stir fudge while cooking?
Never stir the mixture during cooking or sugar could crystallize again. The mixture may seize and become grainy. Use a candy thermometer or conduct a cold water test to check if the fudge is done. … Let the mixture cool before beating.
How do I know if my fudge is ready?
Points to remember
You know it’s ready when a small amount of the mixture dropped into a glass of cold water sets into a soft ball that you can lift out with a teaspoon and pinch between your fingers. Turn off the heat and keep stirring for 5 minutes or until the mix starts to thicken a little.
What happens when you put sugar in boiling water?
Combining boiling water and sugar is known in prison circles as “napalm”. The mixture sticks to the skin and intensifies burns, one of the principal effects of jelly-like napalm bombs.
How can I tell if I have a hard crack stage without a thermometer?
If you don’t have a candy thermometer, you can use the cold water test in a pinch: Drop a spoonful of hot syrup into cold water, then remove the candy from the water and attempt to bend it. If your syrup has reached the hard-crack stage, it will form brittle strands in the water and crack as you bend it.
What is a soft boil?
to boil (an egg) just long enough for the yolk and white to partially solidify, usually three or four minutes.
How do I fix fudge that didn’t set?
In many cases, the sugar, butter, and milk mixture needed to be cooked longer or to a hotter temperature. That’s usually the culprit when fudge doesn’t set. You can try reheating your fudge mixture by adding a little more evaporated milk and bringing it slowly back to the boil.
At what temp does sugar caramelize?
For me, the epitome of stovetop alchemy is making caramel from table sugar. You start with refined sucrose, pure crystalline sweetness, put it in a pan by itself, and turn on the heat. When the sugar rises above 320°F/160°C, the solid crystals begin to melt together into a colorless syrup.
How long does it take to reach hard crack stage?
Continue boiling, uncovered, not stirring the mixture but shaking the saucepan occasionally to distribute the heat as the mixture turns amber in about 9 minutes, then darker amber as it registers 305 degrees on the thermometer (hard-crack stage ), about 3 minutes longer.