italian meringue

How To Make italian meringue

• 1

  Make sure that the egg whites are room temperature and put them in a bowl. Add the texture improving sour ingredient in this point (if desired). Whisk them until the foam starts to slightly hold its form but is not yet fully stiff. You may also whisk them stiff but if you intend to pipe this meringue then too much incorporated air may lead into a bumpy result.
• 2

  1. Bring the sugar and water into a boil in a small kettle, covered with a lid. Remove the lid and lower the heat to medium high. 2. While measuring the temperature of sugar do not push the thermometer all the way to the bottom. If you do not have one then you may drop a drop of sugar into the cold water and see if it has become like resin. Usually boiling it patiently for three minutes will be enough. 3. Remove the sugar off the stove when it reaches 118°C. It should not be boiled into caramel.
• 3

  1. Add the hot sugar into the egg white foam as a thin stream while it's still getting whisked. Pour it almost to the edge but avoid going all the way so it won't stick onto the bowl. You will get a strong and smooth meringue in which the sugar is not crystallized. 2. Add the food coloring if desired as well as the flavoring which can be powder, extract or oil.
• 4

  If you intend to use the meringue as a base for cremes, wait until it has cooled all the way to the room temperature (touch the bowl).
• 5

  Basic things to know about meringue making: – While making meringue the egg whites should be fresh and room temperature which improves their elasticity. The tools should be as clean as possible, especially out of fat. A quick wipe with a small amount of lemon juice or vinegar may help. – While separating the eggs the whites should have zero egg yolk; besides fat it also prevents the fluffiness. Sometimes you may get an egg in which the yolk breaks easily and so it's recommendable to separate each egg in a separate bowl, one at a time. – Adding a small amount of sour ingredient before whisking such as a pinch of cream of tartar or a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar helps in reaching the more stable texture. It's voluntary and barely affects the taste. Avoid adding salt too early. – Do not pipe the meringues too closely for the oven, they need air even if they don't grow in size. – You may also dab a small amount of meringue between the corners of baking sheet and baking paper to make the work easier.
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