What is it and can you create a homeade one??? Please help, i'm going to make fondant.....thanks.
It's easy all you need is two pans that stack one on top of another or a pan a heat-proof bowl for the top. It's basically a pan on top of a pan full of softly boiling water. I dont have a true double boiler either but I use a sauce pan on the stove full of water, it should be simmering not a full boil, place a heat proof bowl or another pan on top of the first pan. The bottom of the top bowl/pan should not be in the water - just hovering over the top. The heat/steam from the water in the bottom pan heats the top pan/bowl up slowly. It's great for melting chocolate or making things like fondant where you don't want the ingredients to get too hot too fast.
Basically it is a pan floating inside a pan of water. The heat from the burner never contacts the inside pan as it is isolated by the hot water. Yes you can make one using two different sized pans of the same shape but I'd suggest you take a look at your local discount store as they are not too pricey to purchase.
A double boiler is essentially a double pan with one lid. One lid fits inside the other. I've never owned one and don't really see a need for one. I just set a stainless steel mixing bowl inside my two quart sauce pan. It works great. Just bring the water in the lower pan to a boil, turn it down to a simmer and set the bowl on top. Keep the heat fairly low because you don't want the water boiling over--especially into your fondant.
It is a pot setting on top of another pot with water in it. You put your food in the top pot and the steam from the boiling water in the bottom pot heats the food.
