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1
Peel the fresh ginger and slice it as thinly as possible, cutting crosswise against the fibers.
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2
Put the ginger slices in a large saucepan, add water to cover, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
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3
Decrease the heat to medium-low and simmer for 3 minutes.
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4
Drain the ginger and repeat this step twice more.
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5
You will have blanched the ginger slices a total of 3 times.
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6
After the third draining, return the ginger to the saucepan and attach a candy thermometer to the side.
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7
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).
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8
Remove from the heat and let the ginger rest in the syrup for 1 hour.
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9
Place the ginger slices in a strainer and stir a few times to make sure as much syrup drips off as possible.
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10
(If you wish, save the syrup for another use, such as for sweetening lemonade or mixing with sparkling water and fresh lime juice.)
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11
Spread the ginger slices out on a wire rack set over a baking sheet and allow to dry for 2 to 3 hours.
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12
Spread the remaining 1 cup (200 g) sugar on a baking sheet.
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13
Place the ginger slices in the sugar and toss with your fingers to separate the pieces and coat them well with sugar.
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14
Lift out the slices and shake off the excess sugar with your hands or place them in a colander and shake well.
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15
Set the sugar-coated ginger slices on the wire rack and let dry overnight at room temperature.
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16
The candied ginger will keep in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
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17
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.
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18
In the candying process, ginger slices or citrus peels are cooked in a thick sugar syrup to preserve them.
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19
But, over time, the sugar has a tendency to recrystallize, causing the ginger or citrus peel to dry out a bit.
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20
Adding a bit of corn syrup inhibits this recrystallization.
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21
(Most other liquid sweeteners, like honey and maple syrup, dont behave the same way, so theyre not interchangeable for corn syrup.)
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22
Ive made the corn syrup optional, so you can decide whether to use it.
