We’ve all been there – eagerly unwrapping a piece of hard candy only to find it stubbornly stuck to another piece. It’s frustrating when you just want to enjoy a sweet treat but can’t get the pieces apart. Luckily, there are some simple tricks to separate stuck hard candy successfully.
Why Does Hard Candy Get Stuck Together?
Hard candy gets stuck together due to a process called cold welding. This occurs when the sugary surfaces of the candies are under pressure in packaging or storage and microscopic irregularities on the surfaces mesh together. The combination of pressure and microscopic fused areas causes the candies to stubbornly stick together.
Humidity can also cause hard candies to stick by creating a very thin sugary film on the outside of the candy pieces. When the candies touch, they essentially glue together from this humid film.
Preventing Hard Candy From Sticking
You can take some proactive steps to prevent hard candy pieces from sticking together in the first place:
- Store hard candy in a cool, dry area. Avoid humid environments that may cause candies to become sticky.
- If candies do stick together, separate them immediately rather than storing them stuck together. The longer they are stuck, the harder it will be to separate.
- Keep hard candy wrapped until ready to eat it. Only unwrap one piece at a time.
- Avoid putting pressure on hard candy pieces when storing them. Crushing force can lead to cold welding.
While being careful in storage can help, sometimes hard candies still manage to stubbornly stick together. When this happens, you’ll need to use some methods to get them apart.
Using Heat to Separate Stuck Hard Candy
One of the most effective ways to separate stuck hard candies is applying a small amount of heat. Some options for using heat include:
- Hold the stuck candies in your hands. The heat from your hands can help melt the surface just enough to pull them apart easily.
- Run the candies under hot tap water for a few seconds. Make sure the water is not scalding hot.
- Microwave the stuck candies for just 1-2 seconds to slightly melt the surface.
- Use a hair dryer on a low heat and low fan setting to gently warm the stuck area and pull apart.
When using heat, it is important not to overdo it. Hard candy can quickly become misshapen, melted, or burned if overheated. Be very careful and use short bursts of gentle heat only as needed.
Trying Mechanical Methods
If using heat does not work or is not an option, you can try some mechanical methods to separate stuck hard candies by force.
- Place the stuck candy pieces between two spoons and carefully twist and pry apart.
- Position the candy on a hard surface and press on the top piece with the back of a spoon.
- Insert a butter knife, small spatula, or dental floss into the seam and gently twist to separate.
- For round candies, loop string or floss around the seam and quickly pull the ends apart.
When using mechanical methods, take care not to apply so much force that the candy shatters or pieces go flying. Gently increase twisting or pulling force until the pieces slowly break free.
Using Other Household Items
You may already have some handy items in the pantry that can help unstick hard candy:
- Cooking oil: Rub a few drops of cooking oil over the seam between the stuck candies. The oil helps lubricate the pieces and release.
- Sugar or cornstarch: Roll the stuck candy in a plate of sugar or cornstarch to absorb any humidity and separate.
- Dental floss: Work a piece of floss back and forth through the seam to saw the pieces apart.
When to Give Up and Break Apart
If the candies absolutely refuse to come apart cleanly, do not risk shattering the candy or cut your fingers prying. Simply grab both pieces tightly and break them apart with a firm snap. You can then enjoy each candy piece separately.
While having to break hard candy apart is disappointing, the candy will still taste the same! Better to break safely than continue struggling to separate extremely stubborn candies.
Storing Separated Candies
Once you have managed to separate your stuck hard candies, take steps to prevent them from getting stuck again:
- Only unwrap one piece of candy at a time when eating.
- Immediately rewrap any unused candies.
- Store opened candy bags or boxes in sealed containers. Plastic bags, jars, or airtight plastic containers all work well.
- Consider keeping different candy flavors separated in individual small bags or containers.
When to Toss Stuck Candies
If candy has been stuck together for an extended period of time, especially in hot or humid conditions, it may not be safe to eat even if you get it separated. Signs old, stuck candy should be discarded include:
- Visible dust, crumbs, hairs, or dirt on the surface
- Sticky spot or residue remaining once separated
- Dull, faded, or white spots on the exterior
- Old expiration date on packaging
Trust your judgment – if the separated candy does not look or smell normal, it is better to be safe and throw it away rather than risk eating contaminated or spoiled candy.
When to Call for Help
While separating stuck hard candy is usually a quick home fix, there are some cases where you may need to call for assistance:
- Candy is extremely rock solid and can’t be pried apart by any method.
- Candy shatters during separation, causing a choking risk.
- Cutting your fingers trying to pry apart candy pieces.
- Overheating candy results in burns.
- Candy pieces are small or irregularly shaped.
- A child has gotten candy stuck and separation is not working.
Do not continue prying at or overheating extremely stubborn or dangerous stuck candy. In the rare event that separating candy poses risks of choking, cuts, or burns, stop and call your doctor or emergency services for help.
Conclusion
Hard candies becoming stubbornly stuck together is an annoyance, but there are a variety of methods you can try to separate them. Applying gentle heat or carefully using kitchen tools, floss, or your fingers can pull apart stuck candies in most cases. Take care not to overheat or shatter the candy during the process. With some clever tricks, you’ll be enjoying your sweet treat in no time.