How NOT to Dehydrate Campari

SolidLiquidsProjectSquareLogoI 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. 

 

Microwave fail dehydrated campari5_tn

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. 

Microwave fail dehydrated campari1_tn

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. 

Microwave fail dehydrated campari4_tn

 

The Solid Liquids Project index is at this link

 

Comments

16 responses to “How NOT to Dehydrate Campari”

  1. JohnTheBastard Avatar

    may I suggest a vegetable dehydrator?

  2. Camper English Avatar

    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.

  3. Andrew Avatar
    Andrew

    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.

  4. Frederic Avatar

    How about repeating the experiment using low settings on your microwave or perhaps the lowest of them all — defrost?

  5. Camper English Avatar

    I was planning to do short bursts of heating but using the lowest setting is a great suggestion. Thanks Fred.

  6. Camper English Avatar

    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…

  7. Brian Avatar

    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?

  8. Camper English Avatar

    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.

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