{"id":1558594,"date":"2020-12-18T16:46:28","date_gmt":"2020-12-18T22:46:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=1558594"},"modified":"2021-01-26T18:17:21","modified_gmt":"2021-01-27T00:17:21","slug":"what-caramel-stages-look-like","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/what-caramel-stages-look-like\/","title":{"rendered":"This Is What Every Stage of Making Caramel Looks Like"},"content":{"rendered":"Not only can you make caramel from scratch,<\/a> you can choose from four caramel stages to get the perfect color and flavor for your recipe.\r\n

What Is Caramel?<\/h2>\r\nCaramel is created by cooking sugar to a high-enough temperature that it begins to brown\u2014or caramelize. It also develops that incredible caramel flavor. The color can range from light to very dark depending on how long it cooks. Caramel is then used to create brittle, hard candy and decorative flourishes for desserts. Add cream, butter and vanilla and cook it a little<\/em> longer to make rich caramel sauce and chewy caramel candy<\/a>.\r\n\r\nHere's the difference between caramel, butterscotch and toffee<\/a>.\r\n

\"stages<\/h2>\r\n

What Are the Caramel Stages?<\/h2>\r\nThe term \"caramel stages\" refers to how much color and flavor has been developed in the caramelizing sugar.\r\n\r\nThings move fast once sugar gets hot enough to begin caramelizing. The time it takes to get from no color to dark brown to burned is mere moments! This is not the time to walk away or check your phone\u2014common caramel mistakes<\/a> we've all made at least once.\r\n

How Do I Know What Stage the Caramel Is?<\/h2>\r\nIt's helpful to have a candy thermometer<\/a>\u00a0to monitor the rising temperature, but it's just as important to use your eyes and nose. The color and aroma of the sugar mixture will tell you what stage you're at and when to stop cooking.\r\n\r\nHere are the different caramel stages:\r\n

\"light<\/h3>\r\n

Light Caramel: 340\u00b0 to 350\u00b0F<\/h3>\r\nIn the first stage, the mixture shows shades of very light amber. The color may appear in one or two spots at first\u2014a gentle swirl of the pan will even out the color throughout. Light caramel has a delicate flavor similar to that of maple candy, with a recognizable but light caramel flavor.\r\n