Glazed fruit vs candied fruit: which is better? When it comes to fruit snacks, one of the most common questions revolve around glazed and candied options. Both options are delicious, but one has to be crowned the winner – right?
Here, we’re going to weigh glazed and candied fruit to see which one really is best. We will also be answering some common questions that you probably have about these snacks.
It’s worth pointing out that there are a lot of conflicting opinions on the internet. What you call these types of fruit could also vary depending on where you live. However, there are distinct differences between glazed and candied fruit, which we will explore below.
While there are similarities between glazed and candied fruit, they are not the same thing. Not only can their uses be different, but their appearances and even flavours differ from one another. You will also use them differently, though there can be overlap in this area.
Glazed fruit is produced by boiling the fruit in syrup. This method also allows the fruit to keep its original properties, such as the flavour, colour, and smell. Boiling the fruit replaces the water with sugar, which is what makes it last longer.
Candied fruit, on the other hand, is made using candied fruit which is then coating it in chunky sugar. This helps to preserve the fruit, while also making them delightfully chewy.
It’s also worth mentioning that you also get frosted fruit. This fruit snack has a beautiful opaque appearance because of the uneven sugar crystallisation. You will recognise them immediately, as they are often used in the festive period.
In this article, we will be referring to candied and glazed fruits using the terms mentioned above. Please bear in mind that many other articles use these terms interchangeably. For the sake of clarity, we will stick with the above.
Luckily, there are plenty of uses for both glazed and candied. Candied fruit uses include enjoying as-is, or using them in various recipes. Candied fruit in baking is popular, and common baking recipes include things like the classic fruitcake, mince pies, and even some pancakes.
On the other hand, you can use glazed fruit for a wide variety of things. They can be used to add some extra pizazz to cocktails and ice creams, and even be used in baking. Glazed fruit – especially glazed cherries, are incredibly popular in pastries and cakes, and can serve as elements within the recipe or as decorations.
Now that you know a little bit about glazed and candied fruits, you’re probably asking yourself which fruits are good to use for them. Now, while most fruits could probably work for glazing and candying, there are some popular options to turn to.
With that being said, there are also going to be some kinds of fruit that probably won’t work for either. To find out more, just keep reading.
You might also ask yourself which fruits can be candied – and the answer is a lot of them! There are popular options to enjoy, but you could realistically turn most fruit into candied fruit. Some options, like bananas, might not work so well, but there are still plenty of other options.
Popular candied fruit options include the following:
Citrus peels (oranges and lemons in particular)
Citrus slices (oranges, lemons, and grapefruit mostly)
Various cherries
Ginger pieces
Pineapple
Melons
Pears
There are lots of options to consider when it comes to glazing fruit. Bearing in mind that glazed fruit won’t be covered in a layer of sugar on top, you may want a different approach to picking your perfect fruit.
Just about any fruit can be glazed, so you have lots of options ahead of you. However, some fruits, like bananas, probably aren’t a great fit for glazing. They’re great for just about everything else, though.
Some of the most popular fruits for glazing include the following:
Strawberries
Apricots
Pineapples
Mango
Kiwi
To pick a winner, you need to know what you want to use the fruit for. Ultimately, they both have their pros and cons, and one will always excel where the other fails.
Once you know what you want to use your fruit for, you can make an informed decision. So, here’s what you need to know about candied and glazed fruits in terms of their shelf-life, texture, and flavour.
Candied fruit bought from health food shops usually lasts up to 2 years. However, there are a few things you should know regarding how long candied fruit last, and the ‘why’ behind it all. It should be kept in a cool, dry place, in an airtight container.
Glazed fruit, on the other hand, only tends to last for around 6 months when stored correctly. It can usually be kept in an airtight container in the fridge, or in a cool, dry, space. It’s crucial to be on the lookout for signs of spoilage, such as mould or a bad smell in glazed fruit.
Candied fruit is coated in sugar. This makes the shell even thicker, and adds some pleasant chewiness. Glazed fruit, on the other hand, might be less chewy and have a thinner ‘shell’.
Depending on what you want to use the fruit for, this is something that you will need to take into consideration.
Because the fruit was boiled in sugar to help preserve it, candied and glazed fruit will be sweeter than ‘raw’ fruit. However, the flavour itself is kept when preserved with this method. This is what makes these fruits such a great option for baking.
Both candied and glazed fruit have excellent flavour, so you can’t really lose in this comparison.
Yes! You can absolutely make your own glazed and candied fruits in the comfort of your own home. However, you should be aware that the process can be daunting, and comes with its fair share of danger warnings.
This is because you will be working with syrups or melted sugar. Melted sugar can result in terrible burns, and can be hazardous to work with. Anyone who has attempted to make their own toffee apples will know exactly what we mean.
If you choose to make glazed or candied fruit at home, you should also be aware that their shelf life may not be the same as store-bought options. This could be due to a range of things such as fruit quality, temperatures, and proper procedure.
However, if you would like to give it a shot, we believe that you absolutely should. You could experiment with different fruits, and find some that work wonderfully – you never know.
Both candied and glazed fruit have their place, but it all depends on what you want to use them for. In terms of health, both contain sugar, but both also contain fruit. So, you can happily enjoy a handful of either option and still be within the government’s sugar consumption guidelines. Put this into perspective with how much sugar is in fruit juice, and these snacks can be enjoyed guilt-free.
In the end, personal preference and needs will determine whether glazed or candied fruits come out on top. However, if you are planning on enjoying some fuss-free fruit snacks, we might argue then candied is the way to go.
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