[Sca-cooks] an interesting semi-disaster

[Stefan li Rous]

Lainie asked about getting solidified sugar out of a bottle and later 
commented:
> Problem is, thinking that this was going to be like regular sekanjabin
> syrup, I put it into a nifty bottle- one of those bottles that the
> pomegranate juice comes in- the one that's shaped like Mae West. :-) 
> I'd
> kind of like to use the bottle again, for a batch of sekanjabin that
> doesn't turn into candy. But how to soften it up? I'd put it in the
> microwave, but I'm afraid that would only solidify it. Then I would 
> have
> sekanjabin Jolly Ranchers!
It *is* sugar. It *will* dissolve. The problem is having the patience 
to wait. You can speed the dissolving of the sugar by heating up the 
solution some. It is very similar to getting crystalized honey out of a 
jar. You might be able to microwave the jar for instance, but you do 
take a chance on breaking the jar if you heat it too fast, or more 
specifically too unevenly. You might try filling the bottle with water 
and microwaving it on a low setting. But yes, I would add water as 
opposed to just nuking the hardened sugar. Or just pour in hot water 
and let it sit for awhile.
> Sun.tea.is.good.
This is another way. Pour in warm water and set it outside or in your 
window in the sun. You did say you were having unusually hot weather. 
Either in the sun or in the microwave or with hot water, it is going to 
take multiple cycles. More sugar will dissolve in the clean water than 
when the sugar water nears saturation.

Stefan
--------
THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
    Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas          
StefanliRous at austin.rr.com
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