Candied fruit facts for kids
 |
|
| Alternative names | crystallised fruit, glacé fruit |
|---|---|
| Type | Confectionery |
| Main ingredients | Fruit or peel, syrup |
Candied fruit, also known as glacé fruit, is a sweet treat made from whole fruits, smaller fruit pieces, or even fruit peels. These are soaked in a warm sugar syrup. This special process helps to remove the water from inside the fruit. It also fills the fruit with sugar, which acts like a natural preservative.
This method of preserving fruit has been around for a long time, since the 14th century! Depending on the fruit's size and type, the candying process can take from a few days to several months. Once finished, candied fruit can stay fresh for up to a year.
Contents
How Candied Fruit is Made
Making candied fruit involves a clever trick to keep it from spoiling. The fruit is soaked in sugar syrup, which slowly replaces the water inside the fruit. This makes the fruit full of sugar. Because there's so much sugar and very little water, tiny things like mold and bacteria can't grow. This is how the fruit stays good for so long.
The general steps to make candied fruit are:
- First, the fruit is often boiled to soften it.
- Then, it's soaked in sugar solutions that get stronger over several weeks.
- Finally, any extra water is dried off, leaving the fruit sweet and preserved.
What Fruits Are Candied?
Many different fruits can be candied. Some popular choices include dates, cherries, pineapple, and peaches. Even ginger root is often candied!
The most common fruit peels used for candying are orange and citron. These, along with candied lemon peel, are often mixed together and used in baking.
How Do People Use Candied Fruit?
Candied fruits are a popular ingredient in many recipes. For example, candied cherries are often found in fruitcakes, especially around the holidays. They can also be added to pancakes for a sweet and chewy treat.
See also
In Spanish: Fruta confitada para niños
