Meringue cookies that stayed sticky no matter what I did

I tried making meringue cookies for a family gathering last weekend. I whipped the egg whites with sugar until they got very stiff. I piped them onto a baking sheet and baked them at a low temperature. After two hours, they were still sticky and soft, not crispy at all. I think the humidity in my kitchen might have been too high. Has anyone found a way to make meringues work in damp weather? I'd like to hear your tips for baking delicate things like this.

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3 Comments

leotaylor7mo ago

Damp weather makes baking tough, huh? My meringues were sticky as well. I baked them extra long. Still soft. Some folks use cornstarch. Might be worth a shot.

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leo6677mo ago

Cornstarch does help, but getting the bake time right is a pain. I leave mine in a turned off oven overnight now. Even a tiny bit under baked turns them chewy. The toothpick test lies. When they're truly done, they'll almost sound hollow if you tap them. It's a whole battle against the air itself when it's humid.

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marymorgan6mo ago

Remember my friend Sarah tried making those in a rainy week. She ended up leaving them in the oven for like, 12 hours like @leo667 said, and they finally dried out. Humidity is the worst for meringues.

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