Powdered Sugar

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Powdered sugar is a mechanically ground crystal sugar. In the preparation of powdered sugar is not applied treatment with chemical ingredients, but only specialized machines that grind the sugar from the crystals into a fine powder.

Powdered sugar has all the qualities, advantages, disadvantages and properties of white crystal sugar, which is obtained from sugar beet or sugar cane. In addition to white sugar, there is also brown sugar, from which, however, no sweet fine powder is prepared. The history of sugar can be traced back several millennia to India and China, where sugar cane was originally mined. Only later did it spread to Persia, Egypt, and even later - the sugar was brought to Greece and Rome by Alexander the Great during his conquests.

Nutritional values and composition of powdered sugar:

Nutritional value per 100 g compared to the recommended daily dose

Energy - 1619 kJ (390-399 kcal); Carbohydrates - 99.98 g; Sugar - 99.80 g; Sucrose - 99.80 g; Glucose - 0 g; Fructose - 0 g; Lactose - 0 g; Maltose - 0 g; Fiber - 0 g; Fat> 0.1 g; Protein - 0 g; Water - 0.03 g; Vitamins; Riboflavin (B2) - 0.019 mg (1%); Minerals; Calcium, Ca - 1 mg (0%); Iron, Fe -0.01 mg (0%); Potassium, K - 2 mg (0%).

Recommended daily dose of sugar

In 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) imposed a healthy dose of sugar per day - no more than 10% of calories. In grams, the amount of pure sugar is not more than 60 g for men and 50 g for women. Carbonated drinks and even iced teas also contain sugar - about 40 g. Drinking 2-3 coffees with sugar exhausts our daily dose.

Selection and storage of powdered sugar

Powdered sugar is available mainly in packages of 500 g and 1 kg, in plastic bags, and its price is significantly higher than that of refined white sugar. When buying powdered sugar in the store, pay attention to its composition, which should be light and non-layered. Be sure to look at the expiration date. Once opened, the packet of powdered sugar should be tightly closed each time and kept in a dry and ventilated place. Sugar is best stored in airtight containers, not in an open box or envelope. Do not store powdered sugar in damp rooms.

The high temperature is also not a good friend of sugar - crystal and powder. It is also important not to store sugar near products that have a strong or unpleasant odor. Sugar absorbs not only water, but also side odors, which is mostly helped by airtight containers.

If you have used a jar to store a product with a strong odor, do not use it to store sugar. Buy a new jar or use one with a neutral smell. Both granulated and powdered sugar should be shaken from time to time. This is necessary so as not to compress the sugar, which is compacted by its own weight.

Culinary application of powdered sugar

Powdered sugar is a faithful friend of many of the cakes, pies, glazes and creams that we prepare at home, and those that we buy ready-made. Regularly sprinkle the freshly baked cake with sifted powdered sugar, and the sweet white powder must be put on pumpkin and various fruit desserts, which gives a finished look.

There are some confectionery creations that would not have turned out so well without the intervention of powdered sugar - fondant, sugar glaze, sugar syrup, sugar dough, etc. Our favorite kisses could not be obtained with such a fine and delicate texture, if it were not for the fine white sweet powder.

Let's make our own powdered sugar

Powdered sugar can be easily obtained at home, the only requirement is to have a cleaned coffee grinder. Put in the grinder 2-3 tbsp.crystal refined sugar, close and grind until you feel that the last crystal has turned into a fine powder. If you do not have a grinder, you will achieve good results by hand in a mortar, but you need to be patient and energized for prolonged rubbing.

Sugar icing recipe

Sift powdered sugar and mix it with 2-3 tablespoons of water. Stir until smooth, and with the resulting glaze pour ready-made cakes and pastries.

Recipe for Kisses

Beat 3 egg whites and add 150 g powdered sugar while stirring constantly in a water bath. From the mixture thus obtained, spray the kisses on paper and dry in a low oven at 100 degrees.

Sugar Dough Recipe

Put 150 ml of water with 70 g of oil in a pan on the stove. Once the butter has melted, remove from the heat and add 150 g of flour at a time. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until a dough separates from the walls. Spread the dough on a kitchen counter and allow to cool slightly but not completely. You can cover it with foil so that it does not catch the crust while it stays. Then start adding 500 g in portions powdered sugar and knead until it absorbs the entire amount of sugar and a homogeneous dough is obtained. If necessary, add more than the indicated amount. You can lighten the finished sugar dough with a few drops of confectionery paint or leave it like that.

The sugar dough prepared in this way is used for the preparation of sugar figurines, for covering cakes and pies, rolling it, etc.

Harm from powdered sugar

All the negative consequences of excessive use of ordinary sugar are valid for powdered sugar. In general, refined sugars are more harmful than good for humans. Sugar creates the ideal environment in the mouth for the development of bacteria. Excessive sweets lead to the formation of dental caries.

If you often eat sweets and other foods that contain sugar, then this is a prerequisite for reducing the body's defenses. Sugar actually reduces the ability of white blood cells to kill bacilli, leading to a suppressed immune system. Excessive confectionery can lead to constipation, memory impairment.

Refined sugar, be it powdered, also contributes to the appearance of insidious hypoglycemia and the onset of diabetes in adults. Eating too much sugar also leads to myocardial infarction.

Those who ingested 110 g of sugar (equivalent to 22 teaspoons of sugar) were five times more prone to heart attacks than those who consumed 60 g (12 teaspoons) of sugar. There is even a diagnosis of sugar addiction, which occurs with specific symptoms and is treated accordingly.