KP: Chef Alexander Belkovich and Prodimex explained how to choose the best sugar
August 21, 2023Source Komsomolskaya Pravda
Let’s talk about sugar! Whatever the objections we can hardly do without it- this is the quickest source energy for the brain, and when you feel drained out there is nothing better than tea with sugar. Nearly every backed good contains sugar. In case you do not buy industrial pastry and prefer homemade one all ingredients must be safe and high quality.
How to choose quality sugar on the supermarket shelves
1. Choose sugar where manufacturer is indicated - today this is the key rule. Manufacturers value their name and it means that they carry out a multi-level check of the goods all the way from the field to retailer. «Prodimex, for example, has been producing sugar in Russia for more than 30 years,» explains Elena Sergutkina, technologist at Prodimex Group. - To guarantee the quality of our products to consumers the company grows its own sugar beets and processes them at its own sugar plants – now there are 14. Thus you can be sure of the quality of the final product.»
2. Film, plastic or kraft paper bag - the packaging of sugar doesn't really matter. More important is tracking the quality of sugar at every stage, and this is done by companies responsible for their product. The brand on the packaging adds confidence that all stages of sugar production meet technological requirements and you are buying a quality product. Only production cycle control guarantees the highest quality. By the way, the major manufacturers, Prodimex Group included, are switching to eco-friendly paper packaging for their products!
3. Look for state standard and other important information on the packaging. Check the category: for example, «Extra» or TS2. «Extra» is white sugar with a mass fraction of sucrose of at least 99.80%, and white sugar of TS2 is not less than 99.70%. That is the higher the category, the whiter the sugar. Prodimex Group, for example, produces sugar of the TS2 category which is sold in the well-known green packaging. «Extra» category sugar is sold under the Naturiqa brand. Other important data include composition, weight, carbohydrate, manufacture date, best before date and storage conditions, as well as information about the manufacturer.
4. The packaging should not be torn or wrinkled. Damaged packages can mean not only less sugar inside but also penetration of bacteria. Sugar must be loose: try to squeeze the sugar slightly in the package and it should crumble (though some lumps are not crucial). But if the packaging is too hard to the touch, then it was stored incorrectly with high humidity.
You can check the sugar at home: put 2-3 tablespoons of granulated sugar or a couple of sugar cubes in a glass of water and stir until dissolved. If the water is clear and there is no residue at the bottom then you bought high-quality sugar. There is another way to check: add 2 tablespoons of sugar to a glass of water and heat. If the sugar dissolves really quickly, then it is of high quality. If the mixture becomes cloudy or white then this sugar is of poor quality and has not been refined properly.
How to choose quality sugar on the supermarket shelves
1. Choose sugar where manufacturer is indicated - today this is the key rule. Manufacturers value their name and it means that they carry out a multi-level check of the goods all the way from the field to retailer. «Prodimex, for example, has been producing sugar in Russia for more than 30 years,» explains Elena Sergutkina, technologist at Prodimex Group. - To guarantee the quality of our products to consumers the company grows its own sugar beets and processes them at its own sugar plants – now there are 14. Thus you can be sure of the quality of the final product.»
2. Film, plastic or kraft paper bag - the packaging of sugar doesn't really matter. More important is tracking the quality of sugar at every stage, and this is done by companies responsible for their product. The brand on the packaging adds confidence that all stages of sugar production meet technological requirements and you are buying a quality product. Only production cycle control guarantees the highest quality. By the way, the major manufacturers, Prodimex Group included, are switching to eco-friendly paper packaging for their products!
3. Look for state standard and other important information on the packaging. Check the category: for example, «Extra» or TS2. «Extra» is white sugar with a mass fraction of sucrose of at least 99.80%, and white sugar of TS2 is not less than 99.70%. That is the higher the category, the whiter the sugar. Prodimex Group, for example, produces sugar of the TS2 category which is sold in the well-known green packaging. «Extra» category sugar is sold under the Naturiqa brand. Other important data include composition, weight, carbohydrate, manufacture date, best before date and storage conditions, as well as information about the manufacturer.
4. The packaging should not be torn or wrinkled. Damaged packages can mean not only less sugar inside but also penetration of bacteria. Sugar must be loose: try to squeeze the sugar slightly in the package and it should crumble (though some lumps are not crucial). But if the packaging is too hard to the touch, then it was stored incorrectly with high humidity.
You can check the sugar at home: put 2-3 tablespoons of granulated sugar or a couple of sugar cubes in a glass of water and stir until dissolved. If the water is clear and there is no residue at the bottom then you bought high-quality sugar. There is another way to check: add 2 tablespoons of sugar to a glass of water and heat. If the sugar dissolves really quickly, then it is of high quality. If the mixture becomes cloudy or white then this sugar is of poor quality and has not been refined properly.