How long does it take for sugar to get to the hard ball stage?
I tried to make nougat but just could not get to the hard ball stage.
Best Answer
It's not a question of "how long" as much as it's a question of "how hot." Sugar reaches the so-called hard ball stage somewhere between 250 and 265 degrees F. How long it will take your sugar to reach that temperature depends on a number of variables including the power of your cooking range and the type of vessel the sugar is being cooked in.
Use either a candy thermometer or the tried and true water testing method from which the stages get their names. When dropped into cold water, the sugar will literally form a hard ball when rolled between your fingers.
You either did not apply enough heat or you applied too much heat. The most reliable way to troubleshoot this problem is with a thermometer.
There's some great information in this article titled How to Test Stages of Sugar on RecipeTips.com
Pictured below is the example image from that article of what hard ball sugar should look like when dropped into cold water:
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How long does it take to get sugar to 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.How long does it take for sugar to harden?
Allow it to sit until hardened (about 2 hours on the counter or 30 min in the freezer). Make sure to cover it while it sits.How can you tell if sugar is at hard-ball stage?
The hard-ball stage of sugar is when heated sugar syrup reaches a thick consistency that holds its shape when cooled in cold water. If you pour melted sugar from the pan into cold water, you can form it into a ball that will not flatten on its own. This stage occurs between 250 and 266 degrees Fahrenheit.How long does it take divinity to get to hard-ball stage?
If necessary, gently swirl the saucepan to help the sugar dissolve. Once all of the sugar has melted, clip a candy thermometer onto the pan and continue to boil, without stirring or swirling, until the mixture reaches 260 degrees (the hard ball stage), 8 to 10 minutes. It is very important not to stir during this step.How to Cook Sugar Syrup
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