(no subject)

[gfish]

Dammit, after a second failed fudge batch I finally thought to do a calibration test on my fancy new digital candy thermometer. Apparently water boils at 102.2 C! I did not know that!

Bah. At least a second test came up with the same result, so I can just add a constant. But I'm really mad at myself for not checking my instrumentation earlier, particularly when it's such a simple test.

Comments

[neuro42.livejournal.com]

Did you use distilled water? Dissolved solids can make a significant difference.

[gfish.livejournal.com]

Accuracy isn't THAT important here. I just need to get into the softball stage so crystals will form and I don't end up with fudgesludge yet again.

[ilmarinen.livejournal.com]

Which begs the question of whether that much error is enough to matter for the candy making?

-B.

[vixyish.livejournal.com]

Remind me to show you how do to it *without* a thermometer as per Better Homes and Gardens.

[tereshkova2001.livejournal.com]

Because everybody loves Better Homes and Gardens. Plus, you get to stick your fingers into ice water!

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

It boils at about 94C here... and in Leadville I think it's 88C.

[gfish.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but I'm pretty much literally at sea level here.

...+91m, according to Google Earth. :)

[solarbird]

100C AT STP! What's your atmospheric pressure, mister?! THESE THINGS MATTER

[tithonium.livejournal.com]

We were discussing altitude vs boiling point yesterday. When I went and looked it up, and got the 500ft = 1° rule, I was amused, as it means water boils at nerdvana at 211f (99.4C).

Now I'll need to check my various thermometers.

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

For more elevation weirdness, there's also the lapse rate, which is about 3.5 degrees F/1000 feet, so (if I remember Nerdvana correctly) whatever the temp is down at Pike Place, you're 2 degrees cooler.

[tithonium.livejournal.com]

Hell, with Seattle's nanoclimates, it could be fall at Pike Place for all I know.