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Toffee trouble
Published: 12/17/2008 12:26 PM
Last Modified: 12/17/2008 12:26 PM

In just the last couple of weeks I've had three calls from people who were having trouble making toffee.

These were people who assured me they were using the same recipes they've always used, but for some reason they weren't working this year.

All three had a problem with the butter separating while cooking.

One cook asked me if there was something different with this year's batch of butter. She started to complain to one of the butter manufacturers, but then tried two more batches with two other brands of butter.... and still no luck.

Another woman said I was her last hope, and that even her grandson, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, couldn't help her. And his emphasis was in pastry.

I told her if he couldn't help, I wasn't sure there was any hope. My best guess to her was to try turning down the heat and cooking longer. It's tempting to crank up the heat while making candy, but it's not worth it.

Have any of you had this problem? Do you know what's causing it or how to fix it?

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Chef (4 years ago)

A couple of things can cause it - too high heat and improper stirring. Bring the butter/sugar mixture to a boil at medium heat - no higher - then allow it to come up to 300 degrees without stirring. Never separates using this method.

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Food Writer Nicole Marshall Middleton joined the Tulsa World in May 1993 after graduating from Oklahoma State University. She has covered crime, city government and general assignment beats during that time - but mostly crime. But when she isn’t at work, Nicole is a devoted food hobbyist. She enjoys meal planning and cooking with her husband, Steve, every day of the week and on holidays it’s a family affair. When the opportunity to become the food writer at the Tulsa World presented itself in the summer of 2011, Nicole jumped at it. She is excited to explore a new side of Tulsa and make the transition from crime to cuisine. .

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Past Articles By Nicole Marshall Middleton

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2/9/2013		Chocolate filigree hearts great for Valentine's Day cupcakes
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2/7/2013		Have you tried cacao nibs?
2/7/2013		Mardi Gras mystery: Strange events at S & J Oyster Co. lead to talk of haunting
2/7/2013		What are you ...? with the King and Queen of Blue Dome District's Mardi Gras parade

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