White Sugar also known as table sugar or granulated sugar is a staple of every household, especially in India. Sweets are mandatory when it comes to celebrations in India, thereby making Sugar mandatory for the preparation of sweets. Sugar, as the name suggests, is derived from Sugarcane. Sucrose that is present in Sugarcane is crystallized to form Sugar.
1.Sugar provides instant energy. White Sugar is a simple carbohydrate that makes it easy for the body to break it down to provide energy.
2.Sugar enhances the flavor of the dish.
3. Sugar is used in jellies and jams and many other items only because Sugar cane extend Shelf Life.
4.Sugar is a very diverse and versatile ingredient to use. It can be used in a wide variety of recipes and is very convenient to use.
White Sugar as the name suggests is white. The reason behind its color is that when sucrose is extracted from sugarcane it contains molasses. Molasses gives the sugar a brown color. The molasses is removed from sucrose along with other impurities which give the sugar its color.
White Sugar undergoes a series of processes. Sugarcane is first crushed and its juice is extracted. The juice consists of Sucrose and molasses and many other impurities. The liquid is subjected to heating, liming, and clarification to remove all the impurities. The thin juice is evaporated and then crystallized. In the crystallization process, the molasses is removed and the product that is derived is ‘White Sugar’.How to remove moisture from White Sugar? Sugar is hygroscopic, which means it will easily absorb moisture from the air. When sugar absorbs moisture, it tends to get lumpy. The best way to ensure that Sugar does not absorb moisture is to store it in an air-tight container. But if in any case, it does, one can follow the following steps:
1. Spread the sugar on a flat surface on a baking tray.
2. Place the tray under direct sunlight for a couple of hours. Keep stirring the sugar every 30 minutes to 1 hour.
3. If you own an oven, you heat it in the oven for 2-3 hours till the lumps go away.
4. Once the sugar is dry, store it in an air-tight container and ensure it does not get in contact with air.
Their name is their biggest difference. Brown Sugar is brown whereas White Sugar as the name suggests is white. Along with their names, there is a difference in their taste. White Sugar is much sweeter when compared to Brown Sugar. Brown Sugar is more granulated. White Sugar does not contain molasses whereas Brown Sugar contains molasses. Brown Sugar is often used in baking because it adds moisture and flavor to cookies and cakes. White Sugar is more commonly used in kitchens and baking.
Both Brown Sugar and White Sugar have been proven harmful to health when consumed in excess quantities. In excess quantities, both sugars have been linked to various kinds of heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. But if a choice is to be made, a lot of people prefer Brown Sugar to White Sugar as it is less processed. Brown Sugar also contains traces of calcium, iron, and various other minerals. These minerals are found in molasses which is only found in Brown Sugar.
White Sugar when consumed in excess quantity is known to cause several health problems. But instead of Sugar, it is possible to include a variety of natural sweeteners in your diet.
Honey:
Honey is a natural sweetener. It contains anti bacterial and is proven to be a good antioxidant.Fruit purees:
Its always better to replace sugar with fruit purees like banana or applesauce. This can be considered a substitute especially when baking cakes, pastries , muffins and sweet breads.Dates
Dates is a natural sweetner and is rich in vitamin B6, potassium, magnesium, iron and is also a great antioxidant.Maple Syrup:
Maple syrup is a sugary liquid derived from maple trees. Maple syrup is also high in sugar but still, a better alternative when compared to Sugar.Jaggery Powder:
Jaggery Powder is not as processed as Sugar and is also considered a healthier option.Naatu Sakkarai is unrefined and is less processed when compared to White Sugar.
Naatu Sakkarai has traces of vitamins and minerals such as Calcium, Iron whereas White Sugar has no or very minimal nutritional value.
White Sugar is much sweeter when compared to Naatu Sakkarai, as the latter is unrefined.
Naatu Sakkarai has a lower Glycemic Index which is why it is slowly absorbed by the bloodstream, unlike White SUgar which is instantly absorbed by the blood.
The cost of Naatu Sakkarai is in a higher price range in comparison to White Sugar.
Palm Sugar is basically Sugar that is derived from the sap of palm trees. Unlike White Sugar which has a sweet taste, Palm Sugar has a very distinct flavor with a mild caramel taste and a hint of smoky flavor. Palm Sugar is a much healthier option than White Sugar because it is unrefined and has traces of Vitamins and Minerals such as calcium, iron, and potassium. White Sugar has no significant nutritional value. The Glycemic Index of Palm Sugar is lesser than White Sugar, which means it is not absorbed easily by the blood stream, thereby maintaining Blood Sugar levels. Palm Sugar is more granulated than White Sugar. Palm Sugar is more expensive than White SUgar because of its limited availability and production process.
Both Jaggery and Sugar are made from sugarcane, but both are processed differently. Jaggery is considered a Superfood because it is laden with rich vitamins and minerals, since White Sugar is heavily processed it had no nutritional value. Jaggery has a distinct caramel-like taste and aroma like molasses whereas Sugar is just sweet in flavor. Since Jaggery has a glycemic Index lower than that of Sugar it takes time to break down and be absorbed by the bloodstream. Jaggery has a lesser calorie value than Sugar. Jaggery is often available as blocks and has a very different texture than Sugar which is generally white in colour and highly powdered or granulated. Jaggery is considered to be more expensive than Sugar due to its production process and availability.