How NOT to Dehydrate Campari
August 11, 2011
I figure, why not try the method that looks easiest first, even if it seems doomed to fail?
That's what I decided to do as an experiment in dehydrating liqueurs down to sugar: to see what happens when you cook Campari the fastest way possible to get all the liquid out.
I put two ounces of Campari in a silicone cupcake cup and tossed it in the microwave. After 30 seconds it boiled over. First it came to a rapid boil, then turned to a real frothy boil.
After the liquid evaporated more, the boil turned more gentle; around three and a half minutes in. But soon enough, at four minutes, came the smell of caramelizing/burning sugar.
At five minutes most of the liquid was gone, and then the sugar started blackening. The Campari turned black, puffed up, and started smoking. I had to open all the windows in my apartment to keep the fire alarm from going off.
A black crust formed where the red sugar was. After removing it from the microwave, it cooled quickly then I tried it. Surprisingly, it tastes just like a burnt marshmallow; just a little more molasses-y. There was no Campari taste to it at all.
In conclusion: That Didn't Work.
The Solid Liquids Project index is at this link.
may I suggest a vegetable dehydrator?
Posted by: JohnTheBastard | August 11, 2011 at 02:03 PM
Yep, that's one of the three ways I'm currently testing. It takes forever but it certainly workds. Will also try a gentler treatment in the microwave.
Posted by: Camper English | August 11, 2011 at 02:06 PM
Evaporation under reduced pressure might be good also. Chemists do this all the time, using a device called a "rotovap" (rotary evaporator) - it spins the liquid inside a flask while the solvent (water, in this case) evaporates under reduced pressure. The low pressure boils it off at a much lower temperature - no caramelization.
Posted by: Andrew | August 11, 2011 at 09:28 PM
How about repeating the experiment using low settings on your microwave or perhaps the lowest of them all -- defrost?
Posted by: Frederic | August 12, 2011 at 10:10 AM
I was planning to do short bursts of heating but using the lowest setting is a great suggestion. Thanks Fred.
Posted by: Camper English | August 12, 2011 at 10:19 AM
I think we can accomplish it without resorting to fancy equipment - I've been experimenting and it has been working. Then again, I've always wanted a rotovap...
Posted by: Camper English | August 12, 2011 at 10:20 AM
How many ounces are you using at a time in a dehydrator? And are you just using a silicone cupcake container for this as well?
Posted by: Brian | August 12, 2011 at 01:45 PM
Next week I am going to get to the details of oven, microwave, and dehydrator. I've got two of the three figured out so far I think.
Posted by: Camper English | August 12, 2011 at 01:49 PM