Sugar-encrusted crystallized ginger is a versatile addition to many desserts and is a snack in its own right. It is a convenient way to soothe a sweet tooth, and ginger itself may have medicinal uses such as relieving nausea. However, consult a doctor first before attempting to use ginger as a treatment for any conditions.
Ginger
Ginger, or Zingiber officinale, is a rhizome native to Southeast Asia. It is used as a spice in cooking, as a tea or in soda and in candy. It is knobby, and the firm, pale yellow flesh is covered with a thin, segmented, brown skin. Chopped, grated, powdered and sliced ginger is common in recipes. Ginger has a spicy flavor that is more intense in mature roots than in young ginger.
Process and Storage
Crystallized ginger, also known as candied ginger or crystallized stem ginger, is a candied ginger rolled in white sugar. Pieces of ginger are soaked in a sugar syrup before being coated with the sugar. Good crystallized ginger is soft and chewy and comes in chunks and slices in varying sizes. Practicallyedible.com notes that if properly stored in a closed container, crystallized ginger can last indefinitely.
Uses
Use crystallized ginger as a chunky addition to cookies, cakes and ice cream, or eat it on its own. The pieces can be rather large, and while you can chop them up, the ginger itself is sticky. Practicallyedible.com suggests rinsing the knife in hot water or coating it with a little oil. Finecooking.com says to carefully cut the piece into thinner slices, and cut those into the size you need.
Crystallized ginger can serve as a substitute for fresh ginger in a pinch--1/4 cup of minced crystallized ginger equals about 1 tbsp. of grated fresh ginger--but remember to wash off the sugary coating first. Wholehealthmd.com points out that a 1-inch-square, 1/4-inch-thick piece of crystallized ginger contains about 500 mg of ginger, making crystallized ginger a portable form that you can eat anywhere.
Possible Benefits
Ginger in all its forms is a folk remedy for nausea. It is under investigation as a possible remedy and has shown promising but somewhat indecisive results. A 2006 Thai study, published in the Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand, found that patients who took ginger capsules experienced less post-operation nausea than those who took a placebo. A 2009 Iranian study reported in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that ginger reduced nausea and vomiting in pregnant women. However, chemotherapy-caused nausea was tougher to handle; a 2008 study from Siena College in New York found a ginger-protein combination reduced post-chemo nausea, but a 2009 study from the University of Michigan found ginger to be ineffective.
Cautions
Despite the purported health benefits, crystallized ginger is encased in sugar. If you are trying to avoid sugar, crystallized ginger is not the best form of ginger for you to eat. Hard crystallized ginger is probably old or not well made. Iowa State University Extension notes that ginger may interfere with warfarin, so talk to your doctor about avoiding crystallized ginger if you are on that medication. If you are pregnant, ask your doctor how much ginger you can eat.
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