This time of year, it’s not just convenient to have sugar on hand — it’s a necessity! With all the cookies, cakes, and pies being baked, your sugar bowl is definitely earning its keep. But there’s a lot more to it than its sweet charms.
What is it? Sugar is a carbohydrate produced naturally through photosynthesis. Its chemical name is sucrose, and every fruit and vegetable contains it to some degree. But sugarcane and sugar beets (large white tubers grown in cool climates) have very high amounts, making them the primary sources of sugar.
Because of the differences in how cane and beets are grown and processed, some claim beet sugar is inferior — especially in the way it caramelizes, and how it affects crumb texture and fluffiness in baked goods.
