Sugar Glass

[ankersandrew]

Hiya guys, Does anyone know how to make sugar glass ?

[Nick S]

For a start, this doesn't give you perfect sugar glass - the companies that make the stuff professionally aren't exactly going around handing out the recipes they use! It can take several tries and practice to get it honed down.

 

Also, a caveat - sugar glass is still quite dangerous, and can cause injury when shattered. Another thing to bear in mind is that it doesn't store or keep well, and will warp and get soft. The recipe we use is two parts water, one part glucose syrup (you can use golden syrup, but your glass won't be totally clear), and three 1/2 parts sugar (white, obviously). Boil it until most of the water has gone and it's pretty thick (don't let it caramalise though). Pour it into the mould, let it set and cool.

 

There are variations on how to cook it, but you can go <_< to find those out, it's been ages since I made the evil stuff.

[paulears]

and not only does it never quite set, homemade stuff also starts to mould quickly and often really smells! My own attempts at homemade sugar glass also showed me you have to have pretty good moulding skills - so a flat sheet, the simplest product is a lot more difficult to make than it looks, and the glass I tried to make never, ever looked like a proper one. Mine also were sticky. I guess the proper commercial stuff has anti-fungicides, anti-stick and loads of other additives. Cost wise for the ingredients, it isn't exactly cheap either (and doesn't do your teeth much good)

[Tomo]

I'm not convinced the proper stuff is even made of sugar, to be honest.

 

I remember tasting it once. That was a really bad idea - it's disgusting.

 

Which is a shame, as I'm sure there is a director somewhere who wants an actor to eat a glass bottle.

[paulears]

well that would be the fungicides and other ingredients, wouldn't it?

[Tomo]

Yes - but I would have expected a little sweetness.

 

I'd guess that they are made of the same 'suger substitute' as sugar-free polos. It tasted similar, if you swap mintyness for the incredibly bitter fungicides and whatnot.