Perfect Meringues

These Irish Coffee Meringues are
an example of hard meringues.

There are two types of meringues. Moist and tender soft meringues are used to top pies and other desserts. Hard meringues are crisp shells for holding fresh fruit or other fillings. To ensure success with meringues:

• Use a copper, stainless-steel, or glass bowl for beating the egg whites. Avoid wooden or plastic bowls because they can absorb fat and will keep egg whites from beating properly.
• When separating the eggs, be careful not to get any yolk in the whites. Even a little fat from a yolk will keep the whites from beating properly.
• Start adding the sugar to the meringue mixture as soon as the egg whites form soft peaks. Add the sugar slowly, beating until the peaks stand straight. The mixture should not slide when the bowl is tipped.