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Anyone make English Toffee candy? I made it 2 years ago and it was perfect...this
- Thread starter marilynfl
- Start date
After a bit of research, I think my issue may have been not stirring it enough at the
finish - I did not stir constantly.
However; that being said - separation can be caused by any of the following:
- heating the initial mixture too quickly and not letting the sugar completely dissolve into the butter before reaching a higher temp;
- not heating the mixture to high enough temp/thermometer failure;
- too rapid change of temp - pouring the mixture from the cooking pot into the pan - some folks mentioned they warmed their pans with heating pads or other methods prior to pouring the cooked mixture onto them;
- stirring too much;
- stirring too quickly;
- not stirring enough;
- too much water content in the butter;
-heating the mixture too quickly which does not allow the water in the solution to completely evaporate (interestingly, one of the fixes for separated toffee is to add hot water by the tsp. to the mixture to rebind it)
finish - I did not stir constantly.
However; that being said - separation can be caused by any of the following:
- heating the initial mixture too quickly and not letting the sugar completely dissolve into the butter before reaching a higher temp;
- not heating the mixture to high enough temp/thermometer failure;
- too rapid change of temp - pouring the mixture from the cooking pot into the pan - some folks mentioned they warmed their pans with heating pads or other methods prior to pouring the cooked mixture onto them;
- stirring too much;
- stirring too quickly;
- not stirring enough;
- too much water content in the butter;
-heating the mixture too quickly which does not allow the water in the solution to completely evaporate (interestingly, one of the fixes for separated toffee is to add hot water by the tsp. to the mixture to rebind it)
But I think your "problem" was that there was butter (fat) in globs in the toffee. That would
seem to be because you didn't stir enough at the beginning to get the melted butter and sugar all together.
I have heard all the other reasons for separation when I have asked--as I said, it still hardens fine and just has an oily layer that can be wiped off. The most usual reason given was for the kind of butter and the water content, not the quicker heating.
seem to be because you didn't stir enough at the beginning to get the melted butter and sugar all together.
I have heard all the other reasons for separation when I have asked--as I said, it still hardens fine and just has an oily layer that can be wiped off. The most usual reason given was for the kind of butter and the water content, not the quicker heating.
michael-in-phoenix
Well-known member
I gave my eldest son a tutorial (at his request) on toffee making. We did a batch in San Diego...
...at my fil's house.
It was not easy, because he has an electric cook top, and I'm used to gas flame.
I'm happy to say we were successful.
I made a total of 7 batches this year between Phoenix and San Diego, and none of it seized. I think I've gotten the process down pat now, thankfully. There's nothing more disappointing than going through a process that "involved" and ending up with a bunch of seized, grainy, semi-stiff butter and sugar. (Not to mention the cost of 1/2 pound of butter and sugar.)
Maybe some day I'll do a YouTube video. REAL candy-makers will probably tear me to pieces, but, hey, my process works for me!
Michael
...at my fil's house.
It was not easy, because he has an electric cook top, and I'm used to gas flame.
I'm happy to say we were successful.
I made a total of 7 batches this year between Phoenix and San Diego, and none of it seized. I think I've gotten the process down pat now, thankfully. There's nothing more disappointing than going through a process that "involved" and ending up with a bunch of seized, grainy, semi-stiff butter and sugar. (Not to mention the cost of 1/2 pound of butter and sugar.)
Maybe some day I'll do a YouTube video. REAL candy-makers will probably tear me to pieces, but, hey, my process works for me!
Michael