10 Tips for Making Candy at Home

If you're interested in making your own sweets, then you definitely need some great tips for making candy. So you’ve decided to start making candy at home—great! Whether you’re a novice in the kitchen or an experienced cook looking to try your hand at candy, these simple tips and instructions will provide all the information you need to get started.

1. Weather Warning

Before making candy, check the weather forecast. Sunny and dry days are great for candy making, but rain and high humidity can cause setting problems.

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2. Thermometer Tactics

For candy making, get a good candy thermometer. You can make candy without one, but it’s harder for beginners in particular. One with a metal clamp that clips on the pan is helpful.

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3. Test Time

Always test that your thermometer is accurate. Place in a boiling pan of water to check the temperature. It should be 212 degrees F. Adjust cooking as necessary.

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4. Measure Before Mixing

Measure out all candy making ingredients beforehand. Getting the temperature to 220 degrees F takes a while, but you want to have everything ready when it hits that point.

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5. Flat-Bottom Pans

When melting sugars, use a heavy-duty saucepan with a flat bottom. This will help prevent scorching.

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6. Low And Slow

Dissolve your sugar into the liquid ingredients over low heat, and then slowly bring to a boil. Once dissolved, don’t stir the sugar mixture unless indicated by the recipe.

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7. Dry It Out

You don’t want moisture in your sugar. One good way to absorb any extra moisture in your sugar container is to dry it for a few hours in a container with a desiccant packet.

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8. Sugar Burns

The temperature of sticky, boiled sugar can exceed 320 degrees F. The human body temperature is about 98.6 degrees F. Ouch!

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9. Attention Please

Candy making deserves your undivided attention. For safety reasons, ban the kids and pets from the room to avoid distractions.

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10. Protect The Fingers

Always use a wooden spoon greased with oil to stir the melting sugar mixture. The oil helps prevent sticking. A metal handle gets too hot and can burn your hands.

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