On Fri, 06 Oct 2006 01:55:43 GMT, Puester >
wrote:

wrote:
>>
>> That's *GREAT!* It never occured to me that there might be such
>> information on the 'net... never thought high altitude made much of a
>> difference. Maybe the web page will explain my pickling failure. I
>> thought my being a bachelor had something to do with it, but maybe it
>> *IS* high altitude.
>>
>> When I am on the mesa (8,210 feet) I have noticed coffee needs several
>> more minutes to soak, and beans take longer to cook. I thought it was
>> just because it's cooler up there.
>>
>> It appears that to make fudge at 6,500 feet, one should bring it to a
>> lower temperature than at sea level.
>>
>
>No. Think about it this way:
>
>At higher altitude water boils at a lower temperature; so do other
>things. (Remember those high school chemistry gas laws? Boyles and
>Charles? It's one of those....) Boiling water is actually COOLER at
>altitude than at sea level. In Denver it boils at just a hair over 200
>degrees instead of 212. That's why it takes longer for the food to cook.
>
>As far as I can remember, it takes a lot longer for candy to reach
>the same level of "done-ness" if you are making candy that has to reach
>hard or soft-ball stages. I did not understand the website's statement
>about lower temp than sea level. That doesn't make sense for things
>like fudge or caramel or hard candies because they'd still be liquid at
>the lower temperature.
>
>If you are traveling through Colorado, stop in Grand Junction for candy
>from Enstrom's or order online: http://www.enstrom.com/default.aspx. I
>can't speak for their fudge, but if it's anything like their almond
>toffee, it's superb. Oh, and try the toffee while you're at it.
>I have no connection to the company other than being a very satisfied
>customer.
>
>gloria p


The rule for making jelly without commercial pectin is to boil until
it reaches 8°F above the boiling point of water in your area. I would
imagine that the same rough numbers would work for candies.
--
Susan N.

"Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral,
48 percent indignation, and 50 percent envy."
Vittorio De Sica, Italian movie director (1901-1974