Topic: broken thermometer when boiling jam

[adrianhumph]

 Hi all,
             I was making a small batch of strawberry jam, I use a thermometer to check the temp is right for setting when the glass broke at the bottom >:( a small amount of jam entered the base of the thermometer. Does this mean I may have contaminated the jam with mercury ??? and I have to throw it away? Any help would be appreciated

                                                     Adrian.

[Jeannine]

I would certainly throw it away, it seems such a shame  but I would be very careful.Mercury is  not the sort of stuff to mess with. Sorry.

XX Jeannine

[Tora]

I agree with Jeannine. Mercury is not something you want to take a risk with. If you end up taking it in you have it in your system forever and can suffer from horrible illnesses. Make sure nobody tries to taste the jam.

I'm really sorry your jam is ruined. Hope you can make a new batch with success.

[tim]

Guarantee??  I have never known one to break.

Or go digital - SO much easier!!

[emmy1978]

Shame! Like Tim says - guarantee? I used to help my nana make jams as a child and she never used a thermometer! Odd.

[Melbourne12]

If it was a purpose-made jam thermometer, I'm surprised that it was a mercury one.  Even our quite venerable one contains alcohol, not mercury.

But if the bulb has broken, I'd be more worried about the tiny fragments of glass.  So mercury or not, I'm afraid that the jam has had it.  :(

[keef]

Most tooth fillings contain mercury... i'd agree with the above i'd be more worried about the glass.

[tim]

Yes - our 40 year old one has red ink!

[carolinej]

Guarantee??  I have never known one to break.

You have to put the thermometer in before you start to heat the jam, otherwise the glass cant cope with the drastic temperature change , and then cracks.

I dont know if that's what you did. If not, I have no idea why ???

cj :)

[asbean]

Keep it on standby in a container of very hot water, then it's not such a shock to its system when put into the high temp jam  :)

[tim]

Hate to dispute a lady's word - & I know that heat can break some glass - but I never put mine in until near the end. It gets in the way!

[carolinej]

I never put mine in until near the end. It gets in the way!

I may give that a try if it is safe. As you say, the thermometer does get in the way

Keep it on standby in a container of very hot water, then it's not such a shock to its system when put into the high temp jam

Good tip ;D


cj :)

[tim]

Yes - that tip is belt & braces!

Go digital!!

[carolinej]

Go digital!!

After the price I paid for mine, about 10 years ago, I am going to make it last at least a lifetime!!!! I dont know why they are SO expensive ???

cj :)

[adrianhumph]

Hi all,
         Thanks very much for all your comments, I did have the thermometer in a bowl of hot water before putting it in the jam, normally I don`t ::) Fortunately it was only a small batch & there are plenty more strawbs left  ;D  That is if they havn`t been washed away with all the rain. I think I may take Tim`s advice & go digital.

                                                          Adrian.

[runnerbean]

I still use the wooden spoon method - if it stops dripping it's a goer, or if not try a cold saucer-if u get a skin u have a set.

[emmy1978]

try a cold saucer-if u get a skin u have a set.

Yep, that's what my nana used!  :)