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Sugaring

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SUBTOPIC=Definition and Process
– Sugaring is a food preservation method akin to pickling.
– It involves dehydrating the food and then packing it with pure sugar.
– The sugar can be crystalline (table/raw sugar) or in liquid form (honey, syrup, molasses).
– Sugaring creates an inhospitable environment for microbes.
– It is used to preserve fruits, vegetables like ginger, and non-food items like in ancient Egyptian mummification.

SUBTOPIC=Risks and Challenges
Sugar can attract moisture, leading to fermentation.
Fermentation can be controlled but may result in undesired outcomes.
– Native yeast in the environment ferments sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
– The process of fermentation can occur if moisture levels are sufficient.
Fermentation, if uncontrolled, can spoil the preservation.

SUBTOPIC=Applications
– Sugaring is commonly used to preserve fruits and vegetables.
Honey was historically used in ancient Egyptian mummification.
– The method is versatile and can be applied to non-food items.
– It helps extend the shelf life of perishable foods.
– Sugaring is an effective way to prevent microbial growth.

SUBTOPIC=Historical Significance
– Sugaring has been used for centuries as a preservation technique.
– Ancient civilizations like the Egyptians utilized sugaring in mummification.
– The method has cultural and historical importance.
– Sugaring played a crucial role in food preservation before modern refrigeration.
– Historical records document the use of sugaring in various civilizations.

SUBTOPIC=References
– Materials, Mummification, Online Exhibits, Exhibits, Spurlock Museum, U of I.
– Source: www.spurlock.illinois.edu (Retrieved 2022-08-08).
– National Geographic Out of Eden Walk.
– Source: www.nationalgeographic.org (Retrieved 2022-08-08).
– TDK (2022-02-07). Honey, I killed the bacteria.

Sugaring (Wikipedia)

Sugaring is a food preservation method similar to pickling. Sugaring is the process of desiccating a food by first dehydrating it, then packing it with pure sugar. This sugar can be crystalline in the form of table or raw sugar, or it can be dense liquid saturated with sugar such as honey, syrup or molasses.

Sugaring creates a hostile environment to microbial life, and is commonly used to preserve fruits as well as vegetables such as ginger. There are also applications of sugaring for non-food preservations. For instance, honey was used as part of the mummification process in some ancient Egyptian rites.

A risk in sugaring is that sugar itself attracts moisture. Once a sufficient moisture level is reached, native yeast in the environment comes out of dormancy and begins to ferment the sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. This leads to the process of fermentation. Although fermentation can also be used as a food preservation method, it must be controlled, or the results could be unpleasant.

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