What Is White Sugar? A Breakdown of 4 Types of White Sugar

White sugar, also called granulated sugar or table sugar, is made from refined sugar cane or sugar beets. First, food processors juice the sugar cane or beets, and then they boil the cane juice to evaporate the water. The raw sugar is then clarified in centrifuges that spin the sugar at high speeds to remove the sticky brown syrup that coats sugar crystals, known as molasses. Once the food processors have refined the sugar, they run it through a natural carbon filtration system to remove impurities and further whiten the sugar granules. The resulting table sugar is chemically pure sucrose. Sugar is considered a natural carbohydrate.

Granulated white sugar and other natural sugars are sweeteners used in all types of foods, including baked goods, sweetened beverages, and savory dishes. It’s worth noting that not all granulated white sugar is vegan. Some sugar companies use bone char to whiten the granules. If you prefer vegan sugar, look for unrefined sugar or organic sugar, such as coconut sugar.

Processed table sugar comes in slightly different variations and sizes of white sugar, including:

1. 1. Granulated sugar: Also commonly called regular sugar or white sugar, granulated sugar is refined sugar that food processors whiten and grind into a size similar to table salt. Baking recipes commonly call for this type of sugar.
2. 2. Superfine sugar: Sometimes called caster sugar, superfine sugar is processed nearly exactly the same as white table sugar, but the sugar refinery grinds superfine sugar into a smaller crystal size than regular table sugar. Desserts such as meringue, mousse, or whipped cream often call for superfine sugar. And it’s a common choice for sweetening cold drinks like iced tea or lemonade because the fine crystals dissolve much more quickly than those of table sugar.
3. 3. Powdered sugar: Also called confectioners’ sugar, powdered sugar is a finely ground white sugar (it’s ground to a powder) mixed with a small amount of cornstarch (to prevent caking). Powdered sugar is an ingredient in frosting, icing, and creamy desserts because it dissolves rapidly.
4. 4. Sugar cubes: These square pieces of sugar are made of plain white sugar pressed together into a cube form. You typically use them to sweeten hot drinks.

In addition to white granulated sugar, you might see other common sugars in the grocery store baking aisle. While all forms of granular or loose sugar are made from sugar beets or sugar cane, the sugar refining process varies greatly.

1. 1. Brown sugar: To make the most common brown sugar, food manufacturers add molasses back into refined white sugar. The moisture in the molasses makes brown sugar softer than white sugar. Dark brown sugar, which contains more molasses, is darker, stickier, and has a stronger molasses flavor than light brown sugar, which has a mild caramel flavor.
2. 2. Turbinado sugar: Also referred to as raw sugar, turbinado sugar is a lightly refined sugar made from the first pressing of sugar cane. It retains more flavor and natural molasses versus white sugar and also has larger crystals.
3. 3. Muscovado sugar: Unlike white sugar, muscovado is unrefined sugar and it retains its natural molasses. To produce muscovado, food processors heat the sugar cane plant and extract the liquid. They then allow the liquid to mostly evaporate, creating a sugar with a dark brown color and a strong molasses flavor.
4. 4. Demerara sugar: Similar to muscovado sugar, demerara sugar is minimally processed and made from evaporated sugarcane juice so it retains its natural molasses. Demerara has a very large sugar crystal size and is dry like white sugar.

Sugar is hygroscopic and absorbs moisture, which is great for baking but bad for storage since the sugar will clump together when exposed to moisture or placed in an area with high humidity. To avoid a negative outcome, store the sugar in an airtight container, and place it in a cool, dry location.

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