Brown sugar is mainly a sucrose sugar product that has a very distinct brown colour and strong flavour due to the presence of molasses. It is the unrefined version of crystal sugar and has comparatively low calories than white sugar.
You may or may not be aware that brown sugar contains a lot of nutrients like iron, calcium, zinc, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and vitamin B6. The brown colour of the brown sugar is mainly accredited to the presence of molasses in the raw sugar cane extract which needs to be refined further to attain the finer version of white sugar.
Varieties of brown sugar
Light brown sugar
This type of brown sugar is mostly used for baking. It contains around 3.5 per cent of molasses by weight. There are certain types of recipes that do not specifically mention which kind of brown sugar is required to be added to bring the desired effect. This is when you need to use the light brown sugar for those select few recipes.
Dark brown sugar
Dark brown sugar contains around 6.5 per cent molasses by weight and this particular type of sugar has a very thick and dense colour. This specific kind of brown sugar is mainly used when any particular recipe requires an extra rich flavour or a dark colour.
Liquid brown sugar
This type of brown sugar is made out of raw cane sugar which has a very powerful aroma and flavour. It is also used for baking or making sweet syrups. It can also be made at home by mixing one part of the sugar with three parts of light brown sugar. Then you need to just heat the mixture until the sugar dissolves fully creating a beautiful consistency.
Use of brown sugar
Indeed, brown sugar is mainly used as an ingredient for baked goods. But there are plenty of other uses for it. For instance, brown sugar is also used as a sweetener for different kinds of marinades, bacon, and sauces. Sometimes brown sugar is also used to make sugar syrup that is added with other spices to enhance the flavour of different beverages. Brown sugar can be used as an active ingredient in puddings, pies, and muffins. It can be added with oatmeal and cereals in powdered form to enhance the taste with extra sweetness. Some salads like French salad also use brown sugar as a key component for dressing which gives a pleasant and subtle sweetness to the vegetables. Another use of brown sugar can be found as an ingredient in body scrubs. Since brown sugar has a slightly acidic pH, its granules are used to enhance the fragrance of the body scrubs.
Brown sugar benefits
Aids digestion: Brown sugar, when added to some lukewarm water and a pinch of grated or sliced ginger, can prove to be very effective in enhancing your body’s digestive capabilities. In case there is an irregular bowel movement, it is better that you have a glass of warm water with brown sugar and ginger that can clear the system effectively.
Helps in weight loss: Brown sugar is believed to be lower in calories as compared to white sugar. So one may choose to include it in your diet moderately and this will not only improve your metabolism but will also cut down on your overall calorie consumption in a week. Another bonus—this way the health-conscious sweet lovers need not sacrifice their sweet tooth to lose weight.
Gives relief from period cramps: Cramps can be extremely uncomfortable and painful, and consuming brown sugar can help to reduce the pain to a great extent. One of the main components of brown sugar is potassium which helps soothe menstrual pain by relieving the muscle cramps soon after consumption.
Good for skin: Brown sugar contains micronutrients like niacin, vitamin B6, and pantothenic acid along with lots of other minerals which can give the skin a supple and rich appearance. In addition to that, there are lots of anti-ageing properties which help to exfoliate dead skin and open the blocked pores to help the skin breathe and stay healthy.
Helps to cure asthma: There are anti-allergic properties in brown sugar that can immediately cure patients who report that they have been suffering from a sudden burst of asthmatic attack due to any allergy for a while.
Antiseptic qualities: Brown sugar is also known to possess antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which help us fight bacterial infections.
How to make brown sugar
To make brown sugar, one cup of white sugar and two teaspoons full of molasses need to be poured into a mixing bowl and kneaded until the entire mixture turns brown and both the sugars have turned uniform in texture. After that, the sugar needs to be stored in an airtight container. However, if the brown sugar turns too hard, it can be placed in a microwave for a minimum of 30 seconds and it will eventually get a richer, and deeper flavour which can be used for food items like a brownie, gingerbread, or chocolate chip cookie.
Difference between brown sugar and white sugar
The number of calories is fewer in brown sugar than in white sugar. While four grams of brown sugar contains only 15 calories, white sugar in the same proportion has 16.3 calories. The production process of both kinds of sugar is also different. Brown sugar adds moisture to the baked goods and gives them a softer and denser appearance. On the other hand, white sugar makes the baked products airy and gives a fluffy texture to the products. Brown sugar has a light caramel or brownish colour whereas white sugar has a lighter texture when applied to different food items. Due to the deep caramel-like taste of brown sugar, it is mostly used in chocolate cakes and cookies to enhance that flavour. On the contrary, white sugar is comparatively sweeter and can be used in any confectionery item as per requirement. But of course, there are baking recipes wherein both the two types of sugars are added.
Storage of brown sugar
Brown sugar tends to harden due to exposure to air, which makes it necessary to be stored in an airtight container that has moisture retention capacity. However, the container in which the brown sugar will be kept must be rustproof and the temperature of the storage area must be cool and moist. Brown sugar can be stored in any kind of reusable, resealable moisture-proof plastic bag, but a canister or a zip-top bag can also be a very good storage container for brown sugar. There is no given shelf life for brown sugar, however, it is best to be consumed within two years. In case some air gets inside the container of brown sugar, the container can be sealed off with a slice of bread, an apple wedge, or some marshmallows which will soak up the molasses, and eventually, the sugar will be regaining its moisture.