My whole kitchen smelled like burnt sugar for a solid three days

Tried making caramel for a fancy cake last Tuesday and completely scorched the first batch. The smoke set off my apartment's fire alarm at 9 PM. I had to open every window in a Chicago winter while my neighbor yelled from the hallway. Finally got it right on the third try by using a candy thermometer and not leaving the stove. Anyone else have a baking fail that literally left a mark on your home?

2 comments

2 Comments

averywright14d ago

My old apartment in Milwaukee still has a permanent smoke stain on the ceiling from a popcorn disaster. The key is to keep a big bowl of baking soda right next to the stove before you start. If it starts to smoke, dump it straight into the pot to kill the burn instantly. Also, a cheap fan pointing at your smoke detector buys you a few critical seconds.

the_julia14d ago

Ever try the water trick to test caramel without a thermometer? @averywright's baking soda tip is solid, but I just keep a cup of ice water nearby to check the stage.