60-Second Video Tips: Make Easy, Hands-Free Caramel

Intimidated by making caramel from scratch? John "Doc" Willoughby illustrates a hands-off method that allows your microwave to do all of the tricky sugar-melting work without the mess.

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[sheronka]

This is why I love America's Test Kitchen!! Out of my 4 attempts to caramelize sugar on the stove top.... I finally tired the microwave version and so far so good!!!

[thomanvonbremerhaven]

Add a little butter and heavy cream after it sits the 5 minutes to make a nice caramel sauce.

[elliottbronstein]

I tried this recently. The Pyrex Bowl shattered from the heat before time was up.

[Elisa]

Awesome! It works so amazingly well!! Thank

[Adramelech]

Thank you for showing us how to make caramel without getting caramel hands... Cause caramel hands are for terror. They're crazy lunch digits!

[soniakaur]

What if you don't have corn syrup?

[Nocturne]

I have no problems with microwaving chocolate and other stuff, but caramel is one thing I HAVE to do on the stove. I need to watch it, lest it burn, and I have to be able to control it. I can deal with some separated chocolate or coagulated milk, but having caramel explode in the microwave is flat out dangerous.

[QueJa]

you dont need all that! just put a cup of sugar in a skillet and 1 Tablespoon of water.. thats caramel! no high fructose syrup!