Taking Care With Caramel

Watching plain sugar transform into caramel in the pan is magical, but if you’re not careful, it can be dangerous as well. Depending on the recipe, caramel cooks to temperatures as high as 350 degrees, and since it is so sticky, it can cause a serious burn if you spill or splash some on your skin. To minimize the possibility of problems: 1) Work very carefully;

2) wear a long-sleeved shirt and an oven mitt or other temperature-proof safety glove on your hand when taking the temperature or handling the pan; and

3) keep a large bowl of ice water next to the stove, so that you can plunge your hand or forearm into it immediately if an accident does occur. –A.R.