:)We made sugar candy frames but they didn't harden. Does anyone know if you can use baking soda to stiffen the sugar? Will it be okay for the bees?
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:)We made sugar candy frames but they didn't harden. Does anyone know if you can use baking soda to stiffen the sugar? Will it be okay for the bees?
You may need a candy thermometer ...Quote:
Originally Posted by Yellow Bee
I agree with BeeCurious. Temperure and time are VERY important making bee candy.
I would not use baking soda.
Scrape it off and continue to boil it the rest of the way. Don't start adding ingredients at random.
Thanks!
If you can't get a thermometer, you can try to gauge it by dropping a little bit of your boiling syrup in cold water. All those sugar stages, soft ball, firm ball, soft crack, hard crack, etc, are named so to describe how they act when you drop some into cold water.
I appreciate all the answers. What I really need is whether or not baking soda would be harmful to the bees. I know the temps and candy stages, but I am wanting to do this differently as it sets quicker and would be perfect for using in 'rescue frames'. With the minimum amount of soda used, I am hoping there is no harmful effects but rather benefits by it. Afterall we humans consume it for upset stomach and for baking and other things and I know that sometimes "medications" for humans is the same for animals. As this is a natural product, I am in hopes there are no ill or long term effects to the bees. Any suggestions where to find this info????
I'm wondering how baking soda would stiffen your candy....
Pollen substitute will make it stiffen up pretty quick.
People add ascorbic acid or vinegar to their sugar syrup to make it closer to the same ph of honey...
If you're interested in the bee's stomachs, I would avoid the baking soda.
Nice one cg3.Quote:
Originally Posted by cg3
One of those instances that makes me realize I'm almost never have the best suggestion :) As soon as I read it I thought "duh!"
If too much acid or corn syrup has been added it will take an enormous amount of sugar or pollen patties to "stiffen" the mixture ...Quote:
Originally Posted by cg3
We don't know what has been added to the op's "candy".
Good point.Quote:
Originally Posted by BeeCurious
When I'm making a batch from 10 lbs sugar, I boil it to temp, take it off the heat and stir in a couple of cups of MegaBee and it sets up right away.