Sugar glass

Sugar glass (also called candy glass, edible glass, and breakaway glass) is a brittle transparent form of sugar that looks like glass.[1] It can be formed into a sheet that looks like flat glass or an object, such as a bottle or drinking glass.

Description

Sugar glass is made by dissolving sugar in water and heating it to at least the "hard crack" stage (approx. 150 °C / 300 °F) in the candy making process. Glucose or corn syrup is used to prevent the sugar from recrystallizing, by getting in the way of the sugar molecules forming crystals. Cream of tartar also helps by turning the sugar into glucose and fructose.[2]

Because sugar glass is hygroscopic, it must be used soon after preparation, or it will soften and lose its brittle quality.

Sugar glass has been used to simulate glass in movies, photographs, plays[3] and professional wrestling.[4] It is much less likely to cause injuries than real glass, is inexpensive to produce and breaks convincingly, making it an excellent choice for stunts. However, it is rarely used for stunt work in modern times as it is extremely fragile and has been replaced with certain synthetic resins such as Piccotex. It is very similar to regular glass but when it dries it usually caramelizes and may acquire a wavy pattern.

Other uses

Sugar glass is also used to make sugar sculptures or other forms of edible art.[5]

Sugar glass was used as a prop for meth in the AMC TV series Breaking Bad.[6] Actor Aaron Paul would eat it on set.[7]

References
  1. Provost, Joseph J.; Colabroy, Keri L.; Kely, Brenda S.; Bodwin, Jeffrey; Wallert, Mark A. (2016-05-02). The Science of Cooking: Understanding the Biology and Chemistry Behind Food and Cooking. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781118674208.
  2. Try this: Sugar glass - the shattering truth Archived 2011-08-22 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Shattering Sugar: Make Movie-Ready Sugar Glass". Scientific American. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  4. "Kurt Angle Talks Shane McMahon Cursing At Him, What Went Wrong In Their Match, More". Wrestling Inc. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  5. César Vega; Erik Van Der Linden (30 December 2011). "Sweet Physics". The Kitchen As Laboratory: Reflections on the Science of Food and Cooking. Columbia University Press. p. 186. ISBN 978-0-231-15344-7. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  6. Trinh, Jean (2017-04-11). "Don't Meth with Albuquerque's 'Breaking Bad' Candy Lady". Vice. Vice. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  7. Snierson, Dan (June 12, 2011). "'Breaking Bad': Aaron Paul confesses his 'blue meth' addiction". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
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