Tools
- Single-egg frying pan. You can use something bigger, but you'll need more oil.
- Half a cup of cooking oil, more for larger pan.
- Small metal cap, such as the cap of a beer bottle.
- Digital meat/candy themometer. (example: Taylor's folding thermometer's range is -40°C to 230°C)
Procedure
- Place oil in frying pan
- Place cap like a little boat in the oil
- Place tiny bit of powder on the boat
- Suspend probe of thermometer into the oil, but not touching the sides
- Double check it's not touching the sides, and is just in the oil
- Heat slowly (low, low heat)
- Note temp where it 'pauses' briefly while the substance turns to liquid
My test today, I was off by 0.2°C from expected value. Absolutely within tolerance.
The above setup can be had for around $10-20 US, if you don't have stuff laying around, and really is 'accurate enough'.