Sit back and relax while I tell you the tale of the two thermometers. I tried a new recipe and a new thermometer at the same time. See how this is already shaping up?
The cheap Acu-rite thermometer from Walmart works great, but my eyes don't. Since it wasn't as detailed as I'd like, I bought a Taylor brand. I was having trouble reading the glass thermometer and I liked that the new one had a well spaced candy making gauge.
So we began making some caramel. At first, it wasn't far off. About 2 degrees. Around 100°F (38°C,) Taylor started to show a 7 degree discrepancy. The metal thermometer started to slow down and seemed to get stuck at this temperature for the longest time.
I was so busy watching the thermometers that I burnt my candy sauce! I didn't realize it until the rancid smell wafted up to my nose.
Since it was already scorched, I decided to try the water drop method to see which thermometer was correct. At softball on the Acu-rite and not even showing boiling on the Taylor (notice the boiling of the syrup,) I dropped a bit into cold water. It formed a little ball that fell apart when you moved it around. Looks like the cheap thermometer is winning.
I didn't get any further pictures of inaccuracy as the candy syrup began to smoke and I needed to stop immediately before it became dangerous. But I have a picture of the candy hardened. Doesn't it look tasty? I hate wasting food! It's very upsetting.
I did some research and read it could be the immersion line wasn't deep enough. So while I was boiling away the hard, burnt candy, I stuck in the thermometer. As the water just started boiling, the temperature stuck at 180F. I added more water to be sure. At a rapid boil for 10 minutes, it still never reached above 200F.
I may have a lemon but I'm not willing to find out with another one at this large of a temperature discrepancy. I decided to finish cleaning off the thermometer, let it cool and carefully placed it back in the packaging. Glad I kept that receipt! I'm going back to my $3 thermometer. Maybe I'll buy a backup...
And this is also why I was searching for a new thermometer in case you were wondering. It was inevitable that I would drop this poor fellow. Sorry about that, Thermador. We made some great peanut butter fudge together and you will be fondly my friend. Yes, I name a lot of things in my kitchen and talk to inanimate objects. You will live on in this tale of the two thermometers.
0 Comments