How can you tell when peanut brittle is done without a thermometer?

A candy thermometer is your best bet, but you can use a digital one as long as it reads high enough—or if you’re completely without a thermometer, you can use the water test: You’ll know it’s hot enough when a bit of the syrup dropped into cold water completely hardens and becomes, well, brittle.

What do I do without a candy 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.

How do you know when brittle is done?

Once you’ve stirred together the sugar, corn syrup, and water, let them come up to a boil WITHOUT STIRRING! But don’t walk away. When it’s starts to brown, it will brown fast. No candy thermometer needed.

Why did my peanut brittle not get hard?

Why is my peanut brittle soft? If your peanut brittle is too soft, you didn’t cook it long enough. It’s important to use a candy thermometer and cook the sugar mixture until it reaches the hard crack stage.

How do you break peanut brittle?

Using buttered metal spatula or 2 forks, gently spread and stretch brittle to thin layer. Allow to cool completely. Break brittle into pieces and store in airtight container.

What temperature is hard 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. If the candy forms thick threads when it drips from the spoon, it is in the hard ball stage or 250° — 265°F.

What do you do with peanut brittle that didn’t Harden?

When peanut brittle doesn’t harden up, your best options are to either start over or pretend that you meant to make peanut chews, not peanut brittle. But before you toss the sticky peanut brittle in the trash, try reheating it and repeating the final cooking steps.

How long does brittle take to harden?

20-30 minutes
HOW LONG DOES BRITTLE TAKE TO HARDEN? Peanut brittle can take 20-30 minutes to harden fully. Leave it alone on the counter, there is no need to refrigerate to set it.

How do you fix peanut brittle that didn’t Harden?

If you live in a humid climate, err on the side of more cooking time to avoid stickiness. At this point, the candy will be golden brown. If you put a drop of it in a glass of water, it will instantly harden. Remove the peanut brittle from the heat and stir in butter, vanilla and baking soda.

How do you fix candy that didn’t Harden?

Humidity is the enemy of hard candy. It will turn it into hard, sticky, goo. I’d try sealing a few pieces in an air-tight container along with some dry rice (or better, silica gel packets) and see if that works better. Instead of powdered sugar, try dusting the candies with a tiny bit of cornstarch.

How to make fluffy peanut brittle with no thermometer?

Add the sugar, water, and karo corn syrup to a large soup pot and cook on stove at medium high heat (about a 7). Cook the mixture, stirring constantly, till it spins a thread (If you’re not sure what spinning a thread is, it’s when you dip the stirring paddle in the mixture, then pull it out and let the mixture drip off the spoon.

Do you need a candy thermometer to make brittle?

Don’t touch. Once you’ve stirred together the sugar, corn syrup, and water, let them come up to a boil WITHOUT STIRRING! But don’t walk away. When it’s starts to brown, it will brown fast. No candy thermometer needed.

What should the temperature of peanut brittle be in the microwave?

If you do have a candy thermometer, the brittle should reach a temperature of 305-310 degrees in order to reach “hard-crack” stage. Prepare a baking sheet with a silicone mat or non stick spray. Set aside. In a medium microwave-safe bowl (with a lid) combine sugar, peanuts, corn syrup, and salt. Mix well.

How long does it take for peanut brittle to melt?

In a medium pot over medium-high heat add sugar, corn syrup and peanuts; stirring constantly until peanuts start to turn light brown and smell cooked – approximately 8 – 10 minutes. The batter will be clumpy and will turn into a bit of a ball before it starts melting.