Candied Ginger - fresh ginger

Method

• Peel the fresh ginger and slice it as thinly as possible, cutting crosswise against the fibers.
• Put the ginger slices in a large saucepan, add water to cover, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Decrease the heat to medium-low and simmer for 3 minutes.
• Drain the ginger and repeat this step twice more.
• You will have blanched the ginger slices a total of 3 times.
• After the third draining, return the ginger to the saucepan and attach a candy thermometer to the side.
• Add the 3 cups (750 ml) water, 3 cups (600 g) sugar, salt, and corn syrup, if using, and cook until the liquid reaches 225F (110C).
• Remove from the heat and let the ginger rest in the syrup for 1 hour.
• Place the ginger slices in a strainer and stir a few times to make sure as much syrup drips off as possible.
• (If you wish, save the syrup for another use, such as for sweetening lemonade or mixing with sparkling water and fresh lime juice.)
• Spread the ginger slices out on a wire rack set over a baking sheet and allow to dry for 2 to 3 hours.
• Spread the remaining 1 cup (200 g) sugar on a baking sheet.
• Place the ginger slices in the sugar and toss with your fingers to separate the pieces and coat them well with sugar.
• Lift out the slices and shake off the excess sugar with your hands or place them in a colander and shake well.
• Set the sugar-coated ginger slices on the wire rack and let dry overnight at room temperature.
• The candied ginger will keep in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
• The ginger can also be left in its syrup, without draining and tossing in sugar, and kept for a similar length of time in the refrigerator.
• In the candying process, ginger slices or citrus peels are cooked in a thick sugar syrup to preserve them.
• But, over time, the sugar has a tendency to recrystallize, causing the ginger or citrus peel to dry out a bit.
• Adding a bit of corn syrup inhibits this recrystallization.
• (Most other liquid sweeteners, like honey and maple syrup, dont behave the same way, so theyre not interchangeable for corn syrup.)
• Ive made the corn syrup optional, so you can decide whether to use it.