What is the softball test when making fudge?
For perfect fudge, the syrup should form a soft ball that can be picked up, but easily flattened. If the syrup is undercooked, drops of syrup will sink to the bottom of the glass in threads or simply dissolve. If the syrup is overcooked, the ball will be hard and difficult to flatten with your fingers.
How long does it take fudge to get to soft ball stage?
Combine sugar and milk in a small pot and cook over medium high heat. Stir continuously while the mixture boils for about 10 minutes. After 10 minutes of boiling, check to see if the ‘soft ball stage’ has occurred.
How do you test candy for 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 when cooking?
A method of testing sugar syrup to see if it has boiled to the proper stage of cooking. It is the point when a drop of boiling syrup is dropped into cold water and forms a soft ball which will flatten on its own when removed. On a candy thermometer the temperature would have reached at least 234°F.
What happens if you don’t beat fudge?
If you overbeat it, the mixture will become too hard and may crystalize. However, if you don’t beat for long enough, it won’t set, and your fudge will be soft.
How do you test for soft-ball stage without a thermometer?
Soft ball: Using a clean spoom, when a small amount of syrup dropped into chilled water it forms a soft, flexible ball. The ball will flatten out after a few moments in your hand. The ball is very soft, hence the name soft ball stage.
When should I start beating fudge?
Experience has shown that you should beat the mixture when its temperature ranges from 43 to 45 °C (110 to 113 °F), which normally occurs fifteen minutes after the pan is removed from heat. The fudge is warm, but not burning hot.
When should I stop beating fudge?
Using a wooden spoon, beat the fudge vigorously until it thickens and begins to lose its gloss. This may take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. While beating by hand is the traditional method, you can use an electric mixer if you have one.
How can I test fudge without a thermometer?
What temperature is soft ball stage for candy?
235° F
The highest temperature that the sugar syrup reaches tells you what the syrup will be like when it cools. In fact, that’s how each of the temperature stages discussed below is named. For example, at 235° F, the syrup is at the “soft-ball” stage.
How long does it take to get sugar to 300 degrees?
Give it all a good stir to mix everything together.
The temperature needs to reach 300-degrees to become hard candy. It will take a good 25-30 minutes to reach the temperature. What is this? It will reach a quick boil, and then sort of darken a little and become a slow boil.
Do you Stir fudge while boiling?
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.
Why did my fudge turn out gooey?
If your fudge turned out super sticky, or it didn’t set as it cools, it probably never got hot enough. This mistake is super easy to avoid if you use a candy thermometer and cook the fudge to the temperature specified in the recipe (usually between 234 and 239°F).
How do you know when fudge is ready?
Use a candy thermometer or conduct a cold water test to check if the fudge is done. Do not rely on the cooking time indicated in your recipe. The fudge is ready when a candy thermometer reads between 112 to 114 °C (234 to 237 °F) or the mixture forms a soft ball in cold water. Let the mixture cool before beating.
How do you know fudge is ready?
How do I know when fudge is ready?
The fudge is ready when a candy thermometer reads between 112 to 114 °C (234 to 237 °F) or the mixture forms a soft ball in cold water. Let the mixture cool before beating. The temperature at this point should be between 43 to 45 °C (110 to 113 °F).
What temperature is fudge ready?
4. Cool Correctly. When your fudge reaches 236–238 degrees F/113–114 degrees C, it’s done; you should remove the pan from the heat so it won’t continue to cook. If your recipe calls for adding butter, you can place it on top of the fudge now so it can start melting, but do not stir.
What temp is hard ball stage?
The temperature of this stage is between 242° — 248°F. Caramels are cooked to the firm ball stage. If the candy forms thick threads when it drips from the spoon, it is in the hard ball stage or 250° — 265°F. If you gather the candy mixture into a ball it will be a hard ball.
What temp is soft ball stage?
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. Most candy recipes will tell you to boil your sugar mixture until it reaches one of the stages below.
What is the secret to good fudge?
Here are some tips to help you make your best fudge:
- Too big is better than too small. There needs to be a lot of extra space in the saucepan you choose to make your fudge in to give the ingredients room to expand.
- Check the consistency.
- Stop stirring.
- Don’t try to salvage all of it.
- If you want to forego sugar crystals.
What happens if you boil fudge too long?
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.
Can you overbeat fudge?
Overbeating the fudge
Beating the cooled batter is one of the crucial steps of fudge-making, but overbeating can turn fudge hard as a rock. Pay close attention to the change in appearance and only beat the fudge until it loses its glossy sheen.
Should you Stir fudge while boiling?
How long should I stir fudge for?
Using a wooden spoon, beat the fudge vigorously until it thickens and begins to lose its gloss. This may take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes.