You made tasty candy but noticed that the hard candy remained on the pan and could not be removed. If you are making candy in your kitchen using a pan, I hope you struggle to remove it.
If you fall into such a frustrating situation, the article is for you. I will inform you of some easy tips that will help you get hard candy out of the pan.
Why Is Hard Candy Tough To Remove?
When you are planning to make candy, you have several options to make the perfect one, like butterscotch, cinnamon, or caramel. Do you know all of their main ingredients are sugar? I hope you know.
That is the main reason why hard candy is hard to remove from the pan. The sugar tends to crystallize at first, making the candy become fully hardened and sticky. After removing the candy, you will notice burnt sugar that cannot be removed easily using steel wool or other traditional methods.
How To Get Hard Candy Out Of The Pan?
You will notice several articles discussing several methods to clean the pan with hard candy. Believe me. You do not need to follow those methods, as the below method is enough for you to clean candy from your pan.
But, don’t worry if the below method won’t work for you. You can follow the more methods which I include after it.
Using Boil Water
Step 1: Let the pan cool down completely to protect yourself from an unwanted burn. Now, boil some fresh water in a kettle, and you need to remove it when you realize that the water will remain hot for around 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 2: After boiling the water, pour it into the hard candy pan. You will notice the hard candy melting and dissolving in the water quite a bit. For better results, you can leave the pan with hot water overnight.
Or, you can pour the fresh water on the hard candy pan, start boiling it, and high it. You can use a lid and continue the process for 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 3: Then, remove the hot water and try to remove the candy, and you will find that it is easily dissolved from the pan. If the candy remains after doing this, do the steps again, and your pan is clean to make a new dish.
Using Metal Spoon
You can easily remove the hard candy from the pan using a metal spoon. But, there is a risk that you might create scratches on the pan which will affect the lifespan of your pan.
Step 1: First, you need to hit up the pan but on a very low flame. But don’t overheat; otherwise, the candy will be burnt and attach badly to your pan.
Step 2: Heat the pan until it turns softer. Then, remove it from the stove or oven and start scrubbing using a spoon or a knife. You will notice that the candies easily start to be removed from the pan.
Note: Don’t use the method if your pan has a nonstick coating. Otherwise, you might damage the coating.
Using Vinegar
Step 1: Put 1/2 cup of vinegar in the pan.
Step 2: Pour enough water to cover the area which you want to clean off.
Step 3: Now, put the pan on a stove, heat it up, and boil it for around 20 minutes. Now, remove the pan from the stove and see the magic.
Using Bon Ami
Step 1: First, you need to sprinkle Bon Ami into the pan.
Step 2: Use a little amount of water over the pan, make a paste, and let it sit overnight or few hours.
Step 3: Now, you can easily remove the hard candy. For the hardened parts use a small knife or spoon.
What Dissolves Crystallized Sugar?
Heat dissolves crystallized sugar. When the heat gets to 300oF. Ordinary sugar dissolves in water without heat but congealed sugar needs heat to dissolve. To remove crystallized sugar from your pan, add some water and bring it to a boil. Boiling water will dissolve the sugar.
How Long Does Sugar Take to Dissolve in a Pan?
It takes only a few seconds for ordinary sugar to dissolve in a pan once you add water. However, crystallized sugar takes a longer time. It takes about 10 to 20 minutes for crystallized sugar to dissolve in a pan.
That’s because it takes water about 10 to 20 minutes to boil when you set your stove to low heat. It all depends on the quantity of water. Remember, the smaller the water quantity, the faster it will boil. And when it begins to boil, the crystallized sugar will dissolve.
It is also important to mention that if you place your pan on high heat, sugar will dissolve faster because the water will get to the boiling point faster. This means how quickly crystallized sugar dissolves depends on both the quantity of water and the heat setting.
What Kind of Pan Do You Use to Make Candy?
Choose either aluminum or cast-iron pans to make candy. It is not advisable to use stainless steel pans because candy scorches easily in stainless steel pans. You may also want to use a candy thermometer to be sure that you’re cooking at the right temperature.
How To Prevent Sugar From Crystallizing?
First of all, you need to know the causes of sugar crystallization. When you use an unclean pan or pot, the impurities will make sugar clump together. In addition, hard water causes sugar crystallization too. Too much stirring may also cause your sugar to crystallize. Here’s the one that will shock you. Do you agree that impure sugar can also cause sugar to congeal?
When you scoop sugar with the same cup you scooped flour and you didn’t clean it, the sugar will contain some flour, making it impure. This kind of sugar is likely to clump together.
To prevent sugar from crystallizing, make sure you wash your pot or pan thoroughly and dry it with heat before pouring sugar into it. If you notice that the water that runs from your faucet is hard water, you may have to invest in a water filter or purifying pitcher. Finally, always use a separate cup or spoon to scoop sugar into your pan. Don’t reuse the one you used to scoop flour or other ingredients.
Final Words
After making the candy, the next part is cleaning. Many people find it frustrating to clean the pan with a hard card. The above guide is for you if you fall into such categories.
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