Brown Sugar vs. White Sugar: What’s the Difference? (2024)

FAQs

Brown Sugar vs. White Sugar: What’s the Difference? ›

Their main differences are their taste and color. Brown sugar contains slightly more minerals and marginally fewer calories than white sugar. However, the nutritional differences between the two are insignificant.

The main difference between white sugar and brown sugar is the presence of molasses. This gives brown sugar a distinctive flavor, color and moisture level that makes it stand out from regular white table sugar.

The main difference between table sugar and brown sugar is the presence of molasses, which gives brown sugar its distinct color, flavor and moisture. The molasses used to make brown sugar comes from sugar cane, not sugar beets.

Because of its molasses content, brown sugar does contain certain minerals, most notably calcium, potassium, iron and magnesium (white sugar contains none of these). But since these minerals are present in only minuscule amounts, there is no real health benefit to using brown sugar.

In most baking recipes, you can substitute brown sugar for white sugar in a one-to-one ratio. So if your recipe calls for one cup white sugar, swap one cup brown sugar. The sweetness level will be exactly the same, but the brown sugar may change the texture of your baked goods.

Talking about sugar being good for health, then natural sugar or stevia is the best. They have many health benefits to offer apart from weight loss. It has all the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that are essential for your body. While stevia is also known to be the best sugar for weight loss.

Despite slight differences in taste, brown and white sugar have a very similar nutrient profile and effect on blood sugar levels. Therefore, brown sugar does not provide any benefits to people with diabetes. Everyone — but especially people with this condition — should moderate their sugar intake for optimal health.

"Honey's advantages over sugar include a slightly lower glycemic index (i.e. it doesn't affect your blood-sugar levels as much)," Dr. Dixon says. "It also contains more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, such as calcium, potassium, vitamin C, zinc, phenolic acids, and flavonoids."

From a calorie and sugar content perspective, the differences between sugar and honey are minimal, however, overall, honey contains slightly more health benefits than table sugar from its potential antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Is maple syrup better than sugar? ›

Maple syrup is a healthier alternative to sugar and has many benefits. It's less processed than regular table sugars and therefore contains more nutrients like vitamins, minerals & antioxidants which help improve your health.

Brown sugar essentially does not go bad (unless contaminants have gotten mixed in), making it ideal for buying in bulk, if you do a lot of baking. Hardened sugar isn't bad. It's just in need of moisture. However, brown sugar will perform best if used within two years of purchase.

In that role, white sugar aerates the dough when creamed with butter for thick and puffy cookies. Brown sugar, meanwhile, is dense and compacts easily, creating fewer air pockets during creaming—that means that there's less opportunity to entrap gas, creating cookies that rise less and spread more.

Dark brown sugar provides a richer, more complex flavor for baked goods. Its dark color and rich flavor are often used in baked goods that benefit from a deep molasses flavor. It also provides more moisture because of the higher molasses content.

The more molasses, the more noticeable the flavor. So, what's the difference between white sugar and brown sugar? Brown sugar has molasses and a little richer flavor. White sugar has no molasses and is just plain sweet.

Glucose and fructose are simple sugars, or monosaccharides. Your body can absorb them more easily than the disaccharide sucrose, which must be broken down first. Added fructose may have the most negative health effects, but experts agree that you should limit your intake of all types of added sugar.

Free sugars are found in foods such as sweets, cakes, biscuits, chocolate, and some fizzy drinks and juice drinks. These are the sugary foods we should cut down on. For example, a can of cola can have as much as 9 cubes of sugar – more than the recommended daily limit for adults.

"Natural sugar, like the sugar found in whole food like fruits, is definitely part of a healthy diet for most people.

Drinks with added sugars

Sugary beverages — such as cola, other sodas, fruit punch, lemonade (and other “-ades”), and some mixed drinks — are not ideal for people with prediabetes or diabetes. These beverages provide empty calories and offer no nutrients.

Research has shown that peanuts can help control blood sugar in both healthy individuals and those with type 2 diabetes. Peanuts and peanut butter have even been shown to help lessen the spike in blood sugar when paired with high-carbohydrate or high-GL foods.

What's the best sugar for type 2 diabetes? ›

Sucralose (Splenda), the Most Popular Sugar Substitute

This sweetener is excellent for people with type 2 diabetes.

Generally speaking, yes, it's OK to eat honey if you have diabetes. But you should consume it in moderation. Although honey has a lower glycemic index (GI) than table sugar, it still contains sugar. And any type of sugar will raise your blood glucose levels.

Cinnamon may help lower blood sugar and fight diabetes by imitating the effects of insulin and increasing the movement of sugar from the bloodstream into cells ( 10 ). It can also help lower blood sugar levels by increasing insulin sensitivity, making insulin more efficient at moving sugar into cells ( 11 ).

A person with diabetes should include a variety of fresh, whole foods in their diet, such as nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables. Bananas are a safe and nutritious fruit for people with diabetes to eat in moderation as part of a balanced, individualized eating plan.

As you can see, maple syrup is lower on the glycemic index than table sugar, meaning it doesn't spike blood sugar as quickly. However, it's not as low as agave, which is considered a low glycemic index sweetener.

If you're diabetic, you have two options for pancake syrup: pure maple syrup or sugar-free syrup. While 100% pure maple syrup is still a form of sugar, it has a lower glycemic index, so it's better for people with diabetes than regular pancake syrup.

Brown Sugar

Oatmeal's long-time compadre is a no-go if you're trying to clean up your diet. Brown sugar adds zero nutritional value—just lots of empty calories that will ratchet up your blood sugar. If you need to add a sweetener besides fresh fruit, opt for a natural one like maple syrup or honey.

Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants and other beneficial compounds. Some research suggests that it may help support blood sugar control, protect against heart disease, and reduce inflammation. Cinnamon is a spice that has been prized for its medicinal properties for thousands of years.

Brown sugar contains slightly more minerals than white sugar but will not provide any health benefits. In fact, your intake of all types of sugar should be limited for optimal health.

Potential Risks of Brown Sugar

While many recipes may call for half a cup or more of brown sugar, a serving of brown sugar is one teaspoon. Too much sugar in your diet can raise your chances of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, so it's important that you limit your portions.

Does honey expire? ›

Even though honey doesn't have an expiration date, it can still undergo natural changes. The National Honey Board says that over time honey may “darken and lose its aroma and flavor or crystallize,” depending on changes in temperature.

Daily consumption of honey has a beneficial effect on the level of antioxidant compounds in the body that can fight excess cholesterol. Research shows that the antioxidants contained in honey can prevent arteries from narrowing.

In general, honey doesn't spoil. However, it can go bad if it's contaminated or incorrectly stored. If your honey has visible mold, or if it smells fermented or "off," then it's time to toss it.

Sweeteners like fruit juice, honey, molasses and maple syrup contain natural sugar and have some nutritional benefits. Fruit has fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. Even raw honey and maple syrup can contain antioxidants and minerals like iron, zinc, calcium and potassium.

Unlike sugar and artificial sweeteners, both of which offer little in terms of nutrition, honey provides some vitamins, minerals, and other health-boosting compounds that may give your coffee a slight nutritional boost ( 1 ).

Honey has a lower glycemic index (GI) than sugar, too. The glycemic index measures how quickly a carbohydrate raises blood sugar levels. Honey has a GI score of 58, and sugar has a GI value of 60. That means honey (like all carbohydrates) raises blood sugar quickly, but not quite as fast as sugar.

The Food Marketing Institute's "The Food Keeper" recommends storing unopened baking soda at room temperature for 18 months. After opening, store at room temperature for 6 months for best quality.

While salt itself has no expiration date, salt products that contain iodine or seasonings that contain other ingredients such as spices, colors and flavors can deteriorate over time.

Flour seems like one of those pantry items with an unlimited shelf life, but it does actually expire. All flour has a printed “best by” or “best if used by” date somewhere on the package. This date reflects the manufacturer's suggested date for best quality.

Brown sugar contains 380 calories per 100 grams (g), while white sugar contains 385 calories per 100 g. Brown sugar contains more calcium than white sugar, with 83 milligrams (mg) per 100 g compared to 1 mg per 100 g of white sugar. Equally, other minerals, such as iron, are slightly higher in brown sugar.

Can you put brown sugar in coffee? ›

Can you put brown sugar in your coffee? Yes, you can use brown sugar in your coffee. And some prefer the flavor over white sugar.

I am often asked why unrefined sugars are more expensive than white sugar. The main reason is that they are usually made in small batches and imported from cane-growing countries around the world, such as Colombia, Brazil, Paraguay, Mauritius, and Mexico. There is no production of traditional brown sugars in America.

The distinction comes from the amount of molasses each sugar contains. Light brown sugar contains around 3.5 percent molasses and dark brown sugar contains 6.5 percent. Regardless, the body processes these sugars the same. While these two sugars are nutritionally almost identical, their tastes can vary quite a bit.

Brown sugar should be stored in a cool, moist area in a rustproof container with a tight-fitting lid. Brown sugar can also be stored in any type of re-sealable, moisture-proof plastic bag. The quality of brown sugar is best when consumed within six months of purchase and opening.

Raw sugar isn't even really raw. It's just slightly less refined, so it retains some of the molasses. But there's no real health real benefit from it. "There's no more nutritional value in raw sugar than there is in white sugar or brown sugar," Nonas said.

Granulated sugar

Using granulated white sugar will result in a flatter, crispier and lighter-colored cookie. Granulated sugar is hygroscopic, so it attracts and absorbs the liquid in the dough. This slows down the development of the gluten (flour), which makes the cookies crispier.

Refined or processed sugar should be limited

Eating these foods regularly leads to weight gain and other problems. “It means you are going to experience that sugar spike and if that happens consistently it can contribute to obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions,” Wohlford says.

Granulated sugar is also sometimes known as white sugar, or “regular” sugar. Granulated sugar has had all of the naturally present molasses refined out of it. It is the sugar that is most commonly used in baking.

The molasses changes the liquid content of the sugar a little bit – that's why white sugar has individual granules that flow freely, and brown sugar clumps together. The molasses in the brown sugar also gives it a little different, richer flavor. The more molasses, the more noticeable the flavor.

Fructose is the sweetest naturally occurring carbohydrate and is 1.2–1.8 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar). Fructose metabolism does not require insulin and has a low impact on blood glucose levels.

Is brown sugar good for health? ›

- Brown sugar is considered to be healthier than refined white sugar because it contains some beneficial nutrients. - The nutrients found in brown sugar include iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and potassium. Brown Sugar has a lower glycemic index than white sugar, and can be substituted 1:1 in recipes.

Their main differences are their taste and color. Brown sugar contains slightly more minerals and marginally fewer calories than white sugar. However, the nutritional differences between the two are insignificant.

Granulated sugar is the most common sugar called for in recipes when cooking and baking. “Regular” sugar granules are fine because small crystals are ideal for bulk handling and not susceptible to caking.

Sanding sugar is a large crystal sugar that's great for decorating because it won't dissolve with heat. It also creates a sparkly effect because of the large size of the crystals that reflect light. It's great for decorating treats like cookies, cakes, scones, muffins, and even candies.

Granulated sugar, aka table sugar, is a white sugar with mid-size crystals that has had all its molasses removed, making it 99.85% sucrose. It's the most common type of sugar used in baking, and as a sweetener for tea and coffee. Use granulated sugar in Chef Dominique Ansel's mini madeleines recipe.