What do you use to stir your maple coated nuts?

[Bruce L]

Is there anything mechanical that can be used to stir maple coated almonds,or does it have to be the old Armstrong method? Got a deal on an industrial Hobart mixer,thought it would be great,but it broke and smashed so many almonds I deemed them unsalable. I had the speed down as low as possible

[buckeye gold]

I use a regular kitchenaide stand mixer with a dough hook until they start to dry/set then hand stir, because it gets too hard on the mixer. The dough hook doesn't break many. I imagine most of your breaking up happens after they get stiff. Soon as it starts to labor, stop and use hand tools.

I do 3 lbs at a time

[Super Sapper]

I do 4 pound batches by hand. I go through about 450 to 500 pounds over the holidays. Use a large enough bowl to mix and to do not heat the syrup up too far as it gets pretty hard to mix. I go to 240. After the first batch they sugar faster.

[SeanD]

I do 4 pound batches by hand. I go through about 450 to 500 pounds over the holidays.

Ok, that got my attention. I use a large wooden spoon and my wrist is feeling it after I do 4 or 5 one-pound batches. I hold the bowl with one arm and stir with the other. You are doing 4-5 lbs at once? Is your name Dr. David Banner?

This has me thinking, though. If I had a way to secure the bowl, it would be much easier to use two hands and use more arm strength and leverage.

[amasonry]

even with a wooden spoon, I beak some. I do 4-5 pounds at a time by hand.