Anthony's Premium Organic Cane Sugar, Granulated

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Most Versatile
Excellent for baking and has a wonderful flavor; our cooking expert recommends it. It's made from 100% organic sugar, that's great for many applications.

PROS
You'll appreciate this classic granulated sugar, which is also certified organic and contains no artificial additives. Non-GMO Project verified.

CONS
A few consumers reported small, black, or brown particles mixed in with the sugar.

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Domino Premium Pure Cane Granulated Sugar

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Customer Favorite
Domino sugar is a fantastic option, whether you're looking for great flavor or value.

PROS
Sugar by one of the world's most famous producers. It's available in a variety of package configurations, including canisters, bags, and multi-packs.

CONS
A few of the packages had minor black flecks in them, and some were damaged. Despite recent price increases, superior sugars remain a bargain compared with gourmet sugars.

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Sugar in the Raw Turbinado Cane Sugar

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Unrefined Choice
According to our specialist, unrefined sugar is delicious and effective for sweetening, especially for coffee.

PROS
Ideal for individuals who want healthier, unprocessed foods because it is raw and natural. Has a robust flavor that tastes wonderful in coffee and tea. It's nice to use as a garnish on cookies and sweets. Non-GMO certified.

CONS
It may make baked goods or food dry or crunchy, so it's not the greatest for cooking. Customers have reported receiving out-of-date boxes.

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Wholesome Organic Dark Brown Sugar

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Great for Cooking
You can't go wrong with this selection if you want brown sugar, from the delicious taste to the company's considerate production methods.

PROS
This rich, flavorful brown sugar has a high natural molasses content and is loved by bakers and grillers. Non-GMO, organic, and fair trade.

CONS
Users frequently complain that the sugar has become yellow and awful. Sugar was found in some bags that were hard and doesn't look fresh.

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C&H Baker's Sugar Ultra-Fine Pure Cane Sugar

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Best for Baking
This is the alternative to choose if you enjoy cooking with sugar—our culinary expert's all-time favorite.

PROS
The tiny grains in this sugar make it well-suited for baking, and it dissolves readily and easily mixes. The pleasant sweet taste is excellent for cocktails. This sugar is available in multiple four bags.

CONS
Most of the boxes leaked, and few were allowed to spill sugar before buyers could use them.

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Buying Guide for Best Sugar

Whether your sugar intake is limited to a couple of teaspoons of sweetener in your coffee or your "sweet tooth" is better characterized as sweet "teeth," it's clear that sugar plays a significant role in most people's diets, and for some, it's a major source of daily calories. It's found in everything from breakfast cereals to tomato sauce. It's been linked to everything from bread and spaghetti to ice cream and pizza dough.

Sugar appears to be in our genetic code. In fact, studies have revealed that even newborns like sugar, and the sweeter the beverage, the more they will consume.

You undoubtedly have sugar (or two) in your pantry right now. But you've probably been wondering about the wide varieties of sugar available on grocery store shelves or whether you should swap to artificial sweeteners. If you eat sugar, here's what you need to know about it.

A single teaspoon of sugar has about 16 calories.

KEY CONSIDERATIONS

What is sugar?

Sugar, also known as a white granulated sweetener and table sugar, is a granular sweetening agent derived from sucrose. It's composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen molecules like other forms of sugar. Sucrose is synthesized by all green plants, including fruits and veggies, from simpler forms of sugar like glucose and fructose.

Your body breaks down sucrose back into glucose and fructose, which are handled by the liver and stored as fat in case the liver can't keep up with sugar consumption when you eat it. That's why excessive high-fructose corn syrup consumption is so hazardous to your health.

Types of sugar

Sugar comes in a variety of forms, as well as other sweeteners, both natural and man-made. On the baking aisles of your local supermarket, you'll discover a plethora of different types of sugar, as well as various kinds of artificial and natural sweeteners. The words "medical nutritionist" and "nutritionist," which may have different meanings in the United States, have the following meanings in other countries:

Confectioner's sugar: This is powdered sugar or granulated sugar that has been finely ground down. It is often combined with a little amount of cornstarch to avoid clumping. Confectioner's sugar may be sprinkled on baked goods for a bit of aesthetic decoration or used to make icing or frosting by dissolving it in fats or liquid.

Castor sugar: Also known as baker's sugar or superfine. Dissolves more readily than granulated sugar but not as easily as confectioner's sugar; castor sugar is a popular choice for making cocktails and other sweetened beverages because it dissolves quickly in liquids. It's also commonly used in delicate baked foods, frosting, and icing.

Granulated sugar: This is the most prevalent sugar, which is refined, multipurpose sugar obtained from sugar cane or sugar beets. When people talk about "sugar," they usually mean this. You may use granulated sugar to sweeten beverages or other dishes, or you can cook with it.

Sanding sugar: After baked goods have been taken out of the oven, sanding sugar is a type of granulated sugar that's used to decorate them. It comes in a variety of hues.

EXPERT TIP

Sanding sugars aren't only used for Christmas goodies! When the slices are ready to bake, lightly cream the tops of each with heavy cream before sprinkling it with coarse white sanding sugar. It offers your meal a beautiful sheen and delicate texture.

Revuu Buddy Cooking and Baking Expert

Coarse sugar: A specialty sugar that is used to decorate baked products has much larger crystals than granulated sugar and comes in a wide range of colors.

Pearl sugar: Pearl sugar is a type of granulated sugar that has been compressed into large granules to prevent it from melting during baking. Pearl sugar, unlike transparent coarse sugar or sanding sugar, is white and opaque.

Cane sugar: Cane sugar, like all forms of granulated sugar, is produced entirely from sugarcane. It's less processed than ordinary granulated sugar, with larger grains and a darker hue. Organic sugar cane is produced by organically certified farmers who follow strict guidelines set forth by the USDA and EU. Organic sugar cane is identical to conventionally grown sugar cane in terms of nutritional value, aroma, color, taste, and price; however, it has no pesticides or synthetic fertilizers used on it.

Light brown sugar: This is a refined granulated sugar that has molasses added back into it after processing, although less than the more potent granulated sugar. Dark brown sugar has a deeper flavor than light or medium brown sugar, but the two may be used interchangeably.

Dark brown sugar: This is simply granulated sugar with the molasses re-added after processing, much like light brown sugar. The molasses adds a deeper color, enhanced taste, and the propensity to clump or solidify. Brown sugar is used in many baked items, such as gingerbread.

Turbinado sugar: Turbinado sugar is a coarse, granular sugar made from and often referred to as "raw," "unrefined," or "natural" sugar. It's simply refined cane sugar that hasn't been processed nearly enough for it to lose most of its naturally occurring molasses. Turbinado sugar is somewhat darker in color, has a stronger molasses taste, and has larger granules than cane sugar. It should be used just like granulated or cane sugar.

Muscovado sugar: Muscovado sugar is the least refined form of sugar available and keeps all of its molasses. Brown sugar is a pure, unrefined form of cane sugar that has been cooked in order to darken its color, alter its texture somewhat, and add a distinctive taste. It's used in cakes, barbeque sauces, and other hearty dishes.

Palm Sugar: Palm sugars, particularly coconut sugar, are increasingly available in the United States. Palm sugar is a type of sugar produced by boiling the juice of palm trees. You can get palm sugars in syrup, paste, and granular forms; all prepared from sap. Because no animal bones are used to extract palm sugars, vegans frequently prefer this choice.

EXPERT TIP

The amount of sugar required for each batch will depend on the type of icing and the recipe. Sugar, in granulated or confectioners' form, comes in 4-pound cartons or bags, which equal 9 cups. If you're going to prepare a lot of products with the same ingredients, knowing how many cups per container works best may

Revuu Buddy Cooking and Baking Expert

Other natural sweeteners

There are many options for naturally derived sweeteners, although cane sugar is the most prevalent. The following are just a few of the most popular alternatives.

Stevia: Stevia is a natural sweetener made from the leaves of the stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana). It has no calories, is 200 to 400 times sweeter than cane sugar, and has a licorice-like aftertaste.

Honey: Honey is stored by bees as a food reserve for the winter. Bees visit a variety of flowers and leave behind sticky-sweet honey, which is a thick liquid with a distinct flavor influenced by the flowers visited. Fructose is the primary form of sugar present in honey. Honey is made up of a variety of antioxidants, traces of vitamins, and around 20 calories per teaspoon.

Monk fruit: Monk fruit extract, like stevia, is a natural sweetener obtained from plants that have zero calories. It's about 200 times sweeter than cane sugar and has a fruity taste, making it an ideal fit for smoothies and other fruity beverages but not for coffee or tea.

Agave nectar: Agave nectar, which is made from the agave plant, has a similar viscosity and flavor to honey.

Maple syrup: Maple syrup, which is made from maple trees' boiled and refined sap, has a distinct flavor that goes well with pancakes, waffles, and other baked meals.

Molasses: Molasses is a by-product of cane sugar production and is available in light and dark versions, with a distinctive taste. It's frequently used in gingerbread and similar baked products.

Artificial sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners, which contain no calories and are frequently sweeter than natural sugar, are commonly used in so-called "diet" and "low-calorie" foods. Artificial sweeteners have been in the news a lot recently due to studies suggesting that they might be harmful to one's health. These are the most popular three.

Aspartame: Equal and NutraSweet, aspartame's trade names, aren't heat stable, so it's commonly added to low-calorie beverages like soda. Aspartame is a highly processed sweetener created from amino acids, the fundamental components of protein. Saccharin has a taste that is up to 500 times sweeter than cane sugar. It's marketed as Sweet' N Low and is a manufactured chemical with a flavor between 200 and 500 times as sweet as cane sugar.

Sucralose: Sucralose is a type of sugar that's been chemically linked with chlorine. Sucralose, unlike aspartame, is heat resistant and may therefore be used in baked products and other cooked foods. It's 600 times sweeter than ordinary sugar.

EXPERT TIP

Sugar is part of the "wet" category when baking with a "wet" set of components and a "dry" set. It's quite hygroscopic, which means it readily absorbs and releases water from its surroundings. Sugar dissolves rapidly in a moist batter, so if your cakes are falling in the center or cookies are spreading out too far and thin, the possibility of excessive sugar (liquid) content exists.

Revuu Buddy Cooking and Baking Expert

SUGAR PRICES

Sugar is not particularly costly as a basic supermarket commodity. A 4-pound bag of granulated sugar generally costs less than $5.

Sugar from other sources, however, costs more. A 2-pound bag of brown sugar may cost around $3, while a 1-pound container of muscovado sugar can cost up to $10.

EXPERT TIP

Sugar is sold in four-pound increments, which may seem odd since the price has been increasing. Sugar producers have chosen to package in smaller units to make the cost more digestible to customers. Therefore sugar was previously sold in 5-pound bags, like flour.

Revuu Buddy Cooking and Baking Expert

TIPS

• Properly store granulated sugar. If kept away from moisture, granulated sugar and other types of white sugar have an indefinite shelf life. Pour the sugar into a glass or any plastic food storage container with a tight seal, or wrap the paper bag containing the sugar in a plastic food storage bag with a resealable top for the best results. Keep your sugar in an airy, cool location away from light.
• Brown sugar should be kept in a cool, dark place. Brown sugar, regardless of its color, is susceptible to hardening and clumping as a result of the greater moisture level in the molasses. Brown sugar should be stored in an airtight container or sealed bag. If the sugar has hardened, microwave it for 20 seconds on a slightly moistened paper towel on top of a plate or lid. If the sugar is still hard, cook for another 20 seconds and then strain or break up the lumps with a fork.
• Honey should be kept at room temperature in a sealed glass or food-safe plastic container. Honey should be kept in an area where it will not get wet. To restore the clarity of your honey, microwave it for 30 seconds and then shake the container, or put the container in a bowl of warm water until the honey is clear once again.

FAQ

What is the calorie content of sugar?

A. The calories in each teaspoon of sugar are about 16, whether it's liquid or crystals. Honey has around 20 calories per spoon on average.

Is there a difference between carbohydrates and sugar?

A. Sugar is not the only type of carbohydrate. Not all carbohydrates are sugar, even though they're all carbohydrates. Starch and fiber are additional carbohydrates that have similar nutritional content to glucose (or sucrose) and fructose, but they are digested at a slower rate than those sugars. Starch, which is found in grains, potatoes, rice, beans, pasta, corn, sweet peas, and root vegetables and is a more complex carbohydrate than sugar. Because it is digested in the body more slowly than sugar, it prevents the rapid rise and fall in blood sugar that frequently occurs when people consume sugars. Fiber, which may be obtained in many fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains, nuts, seeds, and beans, is indigestible to your body; nevertheless, it aids in the maintenance of a healthy digestive system, and maintains a constant blood sugar level, and lowers cholesterol levels.

Is it possible to consume too much sugar?

A. While chocolate may be fatal in extreme cases, it's unlikely to actually kill you.

There are no real-world examples, but scientists at the American Chemical Society determined the "Lethal Dose 50" for sugar, which refers to the amount needed to kill at least half of a test group after consuming a large dose all at once. According to their calculations, a 180-pound person would require approximately 5.5 pounds of pure sugar in one sitting to have a 50 percent chance of dying from an overdose. You may enjoy your sweets with confidence, therefore.

Anthony's Premium Organic Cane Sugar, Granulated

BOTTOMLINE
Most Versatile
Excellent for baking and has a wonderful flavor; our cooking expert recommends it. It's made from 100% organic sugar, that's great for many applications.

Shop Now

Domino Premium Pure Cane Granulated Sugar

BOTTOMLINE
Customer Favorite
Domino sugar is a fantastic option, whether you're looking for great flavor or value.

Shop Now

Sugar in the Raw Turbinado Cane Sugar

BOTTOMLINE
Unrefined Choice
According to our specialist, unrefined sugar is delicious and effective for sweetening, especially for coffee.

Check Price

Wholesome Organic Dark Brown Sugar

BOTTOMLINE
Great for Cooking
You can't go wrong with this selection if you want brown sugar, from the delicious taste to the company's considerate production methods.

Shop Now

C&H Baker's Sugar Ultra-Fine Pure Cane Sugar

BOTTOMLINE
Best for Baking
This is the alternative to choose if you enjoy cooking with sugar—our culinary expert's all-time favorite.

Shop Now