TIFU trying to make candied oranges

Submitted by MelonLord2 t3_121tynh in tifu

For context, I (17 M) am part of a school musical (specifically I run lights) and today is our cast and crew party. Crew was assigned to bring a dessert, so I tried a recipe I found online for candied clementines. I've made them once before, and they turned out alright. The recipe called for me to leave the oranges in a sugar-water mixture to SIMMER for two hours. Here's where the fuck-up comes in: I left it to BOIL instead of SIMMER. About an hour in, I smelled absolutely nose-burning and eye-wateringly rancid smoke, and I went into the kitchen to find a pot full of burnt sugar, a sight that I can only compare to some kind of liquified eldritch horror. I emptied the burnt liquid into the bin, but it's still completely wrecked. I don't know how to clean it out and it's one of our new pots. TL;DR: I fucked up a candy recipe and need to figure out how to clean out the pot.

Edit (update): It's been a while. I tried soaking it for a few days in a baking soda/vinegar mix, this helped a lot. I took a metal scrubber to it and it took a bunch of it off. I'm currently running it through the dishwasher to see if this'll make the scrubbing easier. Thanks to all of you for the advice

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thicccchanka t1_jdng6qj wrote

Fill the pot with water, boil, repeat a few times, that should clear up most of it, then add soap and hot water and let it soak for a few hours.

If that doesn't work them your pot is probably fucked, sorry for your loss.

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SirRolfofSpork t1_jdnmhrx wrote

Replying to thicccchanka (#2,356,998)

Yep, having had to clean out caramel remnants, I can testify to the miracle of boiling water. Also, you can fill the pot and let it simmer for a few minutes, a few cycles of that usually gets out the worst of burnt sugar.

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N8_Tge_Gr8 t1_jdnsmy0 wrote

Replying to MelonLord2 (#2,357,187)

You could also try dumping a cup or two of baking soda into a water vinegar solution, and leaving that overnight.

If all else fails, hit it with some barkeepers' friend and an abrasive.

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Zahrad70 t1_jdo3c9x wrote

If the pot is stainless steel, after trying these excellent suggestions: Barkeepers friend. Should be in your grocery in with the dish washing liquid or cleaners. It’s magic.

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Neenknits t1_jdp27vv wrote

I just scrubbed some oranges, and now need to slice them, in prep for boiling, then sugaring. Amusing to hear your story, and I’m going to be careful! Thanks for the warning.

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AcrobaticSource3 t1_jdp6jat wrote

Am I tho only one who read the title quickly and saw “trying to make candied orgies”?

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supagirl277 t1_jdpuf7r wrote

Hey, be sure that the molten sugar isn’t eating through your trash bag/can

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Eldwyn23 t1_jdpyq8r wrote

Replying to N8_Tge_Gr8 (#2,358,322)

if your pot is non-stick coated this will destroy the coating and can create a situation where you don't use the pot moving forward for fear of the teflon coating coming off into your food.

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