Today we celebrate National Candied Orange Peel Day on May 4 every year. National Candied Orange Peel is a holiday to celebrate candied Orange Peel, a sweet that’s been around for Centuries. Candied Orange Peel can be eaten on its own, or Candied Orange Peel can be used as part of a edible decoration, or even used as an ingredient in sweets. There are many different recipes for Candied Orange Peel but the primary ingredients are Sugar, Water, and Orange Peels. The process involves soaking the Orange Peel in Sugar Syrup and then letting it dry off. Candying fruits is a great way to convert them into desserts and preserve them.
On National Candied Orange Peel Day, chefs all across the country celebrate the goodness and versatility of Candied Prange Peel in recipes they create. Candied Fruits have been around for a long time and Candied Fruits are time-consuming to make but fairly simple. Candying Fruits and Fruit Peels requires very few ingredients and can be prepared easily.
To prepare Candy Orange Peels, the first step is to remove the pith which is the white part of the Peel, on the inside. The Peel is extremely bitter and will affect the flavor of the Orange Peels, regardless of the amount of Sugar used. Then the peel is further cut up into strips, usually about a quarter-inch wide.
Some Chefs prefer to remove the peel in a single long strip which is especially useful when the Candied Orange Peel is going to be used as a decorative element in the plating of a dessert or dish. The cut-up Orange Peel is added to a pot of boiling water for about 15 minutes. The water is then drained off and the peels are rinsed.
The next step is preparing the Sugar Syrup, which is done by dissolving one part Sugar in one part water. Once the Sugar is completely dissolved, the cut and boiled strips of Orange Peel are added to the pot of Sugar Syrup and allowed to soak in the syrup for about 45 minutes or so, until the peel is very soft.
Then the excess water is drained off and the peels are set aside to dry, which might take a couple of days depending on the weather. These peels can be made before they are needed and can last up to a few months depending on the recipe. Your Candied Orange Peels can also be frozen and used later.
NATIONAL CANDIED ORANGE PEEL DAY ACTIVITIES
- What better way to get a head start on all your holiday baking than to get Candy Orange Peel ready a few months early?
- Purchase Candy Orange Peel from a farmer’s market if you’re not comfortable cooking.
- For the Holiday dip into your inner baker and prepare a Fruit Cakes which typically call for Candied Orange Peel.
IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT CANDIED FRUITS
- The use of Sugar to preserve Fruits and Fruit Peels dates as far back as ancient China and Mesopotamia, even if the candying process began with the Arabs in the Middle East.
- Traditional Sicilian cuisine was heavily influenced by the Arabs and candied Fruits were an instant hit in Italy.
- The tradition of candying fruits has been around for a long time, and before Sugar was popularized, Honey was the main ingredient.
- Factory-made candied Fruits are soaked in Sugar Syrup of increasing concentrations to complete the preservation process and make the peels last a long time.
- Did you know during the Great Depression, people had to use what they had, and when Sugar was scarce, they made use of Kool-Aid and Fruit juice to candy Fruits and Fruit Peels.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL CANDIED ORANGE PEEL DAY
- Candied Orange Peel Day is an excuse to eat Orange Peel because Candied Orange Peel has loads of flavor and people love eating it!
- The freshest fruits are available in Summer, and we know Candied Orange Peel keeps well. Take advantage and get candying so that when it’s time to do your holiday baking, there’s so much less to do.
- Who wouldn’t want an excuse to soak fruits and fruit peels in Sugar syrup and what better day to do so than National Candied Orange Peel Day?
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
