How to test for stages of sugar syrup (2024)

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. If it’s pliable, sticky and can be moulded in your fingers easily, it has reached the soft ball stage and the syrup can be used to make fudge and marzipan.

To reach the hard ball stage, continue cooking the syrup and then pour a spoonful into the bowl once more to test. It should hold together in a firm ball and will be tougher to re-shape as it cools. At this stage, the syrup can be used to make marshmallows and Italian meringue.

As the temperature of the sugar increases, the sugar syrup will begin to go browner in the pan. It will harden immediately as it hits the water. The sugar will begin to crack and break apart under pressure. The hard crack stage is used for lollipops, spun sugar and hard toffees.

Recipes using this technique

How to test for stages of sugar syrup (2024)

FAQs

How to test for stages of sugar syrup? ›

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. If it's pliable, sticky and can be moulded in your fingers easily, it has reached the soft ball stage and the syrup can be used to make fudge and marzipan.

What are the stages of sugar syrup? ›

Cooking sugar syrup to this stage gives you not candy, but syrup—something you might make to pour over ice cream.
  • Soft-Ball Stage. 235° F–240° F. sugar concentration: 85% ...
  • Firm-Ball Stage. 245° F–250° F. sugar concentration: 87% ...
  • Hard-Ball Stage. 250° F–265° F. ...
  • Soft-Crack Stage. 270° F–290° F. ...
  • Hard-Crack Stage. 300° F–310° F.

How to know if simple syrup is done? ›

Stir the simple syrup and place the saucepan over medium heat. By the time the edges start to simmer, the liquid should be completely clear, not cloudy. Immediately remove from the heat source. Add flavor.

How do you test syrup? ›

Slowly immerse the hydrometer into the syrup into the test cup until it reaches the “HOT” test mark and then carefully release it. If the reading is lower than the number on the table, the syrup is “light” and will need more boiling. If it is higher, it will need to be diluted.

What are the methods for testing sugars? ›

The Benedict's Solution provides a test for the presence of simple sugars. If sugar is present, the Benedict's Solution will turn color (shades of yellow, orange, brown).

What are sugar stages? ›

Sugar stages are the different levels of consistency that sugar reaches when it is heated. During this process, the sugar changes in terms of texture, colour, and taste, depending on the temperature, time and proportion of water and sugar.

What is the process for sugar syrup? ›

Method
  • Dissolve 300g caster sugar in 150ml water over a low heat.
  • Leave to cool and bottle for future use in co*cktails. Store in the fridge.

How many stages of sugar are there? ›

To Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit
StageFahrenheit (Degrees F)Celsius (Degrees C)
Soft Ball234 - 240112 - 115
Firm Ball242 - 248116 - 120
Hard Ball250 - 266122 - 130
Soft Crack270 - 290132 - 143
3 more rows

How do you evaluate syrup? ›

Determine the pH of syrup by suitable means; it should be 6.0 to 7.0. With the visual inspection, the ingredient & the final product are carefully examined for purity &for appearance Physical appearance of product for patient adherence compliance is critical so that it should be good looking & elegance in appearance.

How do you know if syrup is thick enough? ›

Testing Consistency:
  1. Use a hydrometer designed for maple syrup to check the density. The syrup is done when it reaches a specific gravity of 1.33, or 66° Brix.
  2. Alternatively, you can use a "cold water test" where you drop a bit of syrup into cold water; it should form a soft ball when it's at the correct sugar density.
Jun 16, 2019

How to tell if sugar syrup is done? ›

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. If it's pliable, sticky and can be moulded in your fingers easily, it has reached the soft ball stage and the syrup can be used to make fudge and marzipan.

How to tell if syrup is done? ›

The Temperature of Maple Syrup

Typically, maple syrup is finished when the syrup reaches 219°F. The long answer is that maple syrup is finished at 7°F above boiling water. In most places, water will boil at 212°F, but sometimes this number is different based on elevation and other environmental factors.

Why won't my sugar syrup thicken? ›

Pour the syrup into a saucepan, then turn the burner on low. Bring the sauce to a low simmer and let it sit for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally so it doesn't burn. Leave the lid off so that some of the liquid can evaporate, which is what will cause the syrup to thicken.

What is the method of evaluation of syrup? ›

Various parameters were evaluated such as PH, viscosity, density, stability test. The syrup was determined to be stable and ready for technology transfer. ... Syrup is present in syrup in large quantities, so it is often susceptible to bacterial contamination used as a preservative.

What methods are used to determine the concentration of sugar syrup? ›

In this study, a rheological method was developed by which the concentration of sucrose in syrups can be determined with reasonable accuracy if the viscosity of the test solution was known or if the time for the liquid to pass through a granule bed was measured.

How do you know when syrup is done without a hydrometer? ›

When the syrup starts to run off the spoon in a sheet or a stream, then it's almost done. It will also start to look more like syrup and less like sap at this point. If you think the syrup is done, take it off the fire and let it cool a bit. As it cools it should start to thicken if it has turned into syrup.

How do you test sugar content? ›

You can use a device that measures your sugar levels throughout the day and night with a tiny sensor. This is called a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Or you can test yourself as needed with a portable electronic device that uses a small drop of blood. This is called a blood sugar meter.

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