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Produce => Recipes => Topic started by: adrianhumph on June 21, 2007, 10:13:43

Title: broken thermometer when boiling jam
Post by: adrianhumph on June 21, 2007, 10:13:43: 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.
Title: Re: broken thermometer when boiling jam
Post by: Jeannine on June 21, 2007, 10:17:08: 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
Title: Re: broken thermometer when boiling jam
Post by: Tora on June 21, 2007, 10:38:37: 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.
Title: Re: broken thermometer when boiling jam
Post by: tim on June 21, 2007, 10:50:41: Guarantee?? I have never known one to break.

Or go digital - SO much easier!!
Title: Re: broken thermometer when boiling jam
Post by: emmy1978 on June 21, 2007, 10:58:51: Shame! Like Tim says - guarantee? I used to help my nana make jams as a child and she never used a thermometer! Odd.
Title: Re: broken thermometer when boiling jam
Post by: Melbourne12 on June 21, 2007, 10:59:25: 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. :(
Title: Re: broken thermometer when boiling jam
Post by: keef on June 21, 2007, 11:19:03: Most tooth fillings contain mercury... i'd agree with the above i'd be more worried about the glass.
Title: Re: broken thermometer when boiling jam
Post by: tim on June 21, 2007, 12:55:31: Yes - our 40 year old one has red ink!
Title: Re: broken thermometer when boiling jam
Post by: carolinej on June 21, 2007, 16:58:32: Quote
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 :)
Title: Re: broken thermometer when boiling jam
Post by: asbean on June 21, 2007, 17:10:38: 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 :)
Title: Re: broken thermometer when boiling jam
Post by: tim on June 21, 2007, 17:20:31: 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!
Title: Re: broken thermometer when boiling jam
Post by: carolinej on June 21, 2007, 18:41:44: Quote
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

Quote
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 :)
Title: Re: broken thermometer when boiling jam
Post by: tim on June 21, 2007, 19:22:52: Yes - that tip is belt & braces!

Go digital!!
Title: Re: broken thermometer when boiling jam
Post by: carolinej on June 21, 2007, 22:22:31: Quote
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 :)
Title: Re: broken thermometer when boiling jam
Post by: adrianhumph on June 22, 2007, 09:30:04: 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.
Title: Re: broken thermometer when boiling jam
Post by: runnerbean on June 22, 2007, 10:15:58: 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.
Title: Re: broken thermometer when boiling jam
Post by: emmy1978 on June 22, 2007, 13:46:13: Quote from: runnerbean on June 22, 2007, 10:15:58
try a cold saucer-if u get a skin u have a set.

Yep, that's what my nana used! :)