Can You Use Granulated Sugar Instead Of Caster Sugar In Meringues?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Can you use granulated sugar instead of caster sugar in meringues? castor sugar

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Which sugar is best for meringues?

You can use regular granulated sugar when you’re making a meringue, but many cooks swear by

superfine sugar

because its ultra-tiny crystals dissolve more easily and completely when you whip them up with the egg whites.

What happens if I use granulated sugar instead of caster?

Can I substitute granulated sugar for caster sugar?

Your cakes will still hold up if you use granulated sugar as both the flavour and water content are the same

. Caster sugar, however, is much finer and dissolves much easier than granulated sugar which is coarser in texture.

What can I use instead of caster sugar in meringue?

Will granulated sugar work instead of caster sugar?

Caster Sugar Substitute


Granulated sugar will usually work just fine as a caster sugar alternative

. Substitute on a 1:1 ratio (if your recipe calls for a cup of caster sugar, use a cup of granulated sugar).

Should I use powdered sugar or granulated sugar for meringue?


Use ultrafine Baker’s Sugar

for meringues and other baked goods – it dissolves faster than regular granulated sugar. Use ultrafine Baker’s Sugar to help prevent “weeping” or sogginess. Meringues will weep if there’s any undissolved sugar. Don’t put granulated sugar in a food processor to achieve a finer grain.

Why is caster sugar used to make meringues?

Sugar. Caster sugar is the usual option for meringues –

the small grains dissolve easily in the foamy mixture

.

Do I have to use caster sugar?


Whether or not you can substitute granulated sugar for caster sugar depends on the recipe

. If you’re making a standard cake or cookies, then it should be fine. Note that the bigger crystals in granulated sugar may affect the texture, making it slightly grainy.

Can I use granulated sugar instead of golden caster sugar?

Yes. While caster sugar and granulated sugar are not exactly the same,

they can be swapped 1:1 in baking recipes

. Caster sugar is slightly finer and dissolves more easily, but in my experience, this doesn’t affect most baking recipes if swapped with granulated sugar.

Which is sweeter caster sugar or granulated?

It is exactly the same product, just in finer granules so you need less of a spoonful in tea or coffee. Message withdrawn at poster’s request. I’d use

half the amount of caster than granulated, it’s much sweeter

. It is just the same, just ground finer.

What is crucial in making meringue?

Acid. Whether it be vinegar, lemon juice, cream of tartar, or a combination,

an acid

will greatly improve the structure of meringue. Acid not only helps meringue whip up and aerate more quickly, it also keeps it stable. Without acid, meringue is more likely to collapse either during or after mixing.

How do you make caster sugar from granulated sugar?

What makes a good meringue?

  1. When making meringues, always cook egg whites to avoid salmonella poisoning.
  2. Don’t use packaged egg whites to make meringue. …
  3. Use fresh egg whites. …
  4. Use eggs at room temperature. …
  5. Never let any yolk get into the whites.
  6. Don’t overbeat egg whites.

What is the equivalent of caster sugar?

Caster Sugar Substitute


Superfine sugar

, widely available in the US, is the best substitute for caster sugar.

What is a good substitute for golden caster sugar?

If you have a recipe that calls for golden caster sugar, the best substitute is

regular white caster sugar

, since their grains are the same size and have the same dry, free-flowing texture and degree of sweetness.

Can you make your own caster sugar?


You can make your own caster sugar by grinding granulated sugar slightly in a food processor or blender

(or a very clean coffee grinder). However you do need to be careful when doing this as it can be easy to end up with a sugar powder instead of finer granules.

Why are my meringues not stiffening?

There are several reasons why your meringue may not have peaked well; these include

not adding tartar to the mixture, your meringue mixture was exposed to fat or oil, you simply haven’t beaten the eggs enough, you added the sugar in too fast, your eggs might have been too cold

, to name a few.

Why are my meringues soft?


Not enough sugar

.

The less sugar, the less effective the evaporation process will be during baking, which will leave excess moisture behind and result in a soft meringue. The higher the sugar content, the more effective the evaporation of moisture, and the crisper the baked meringue will be.

Why is my meringue not crispy?


Underbaking or overbaking your Meringue will result in a chewy texture

. Make sure that you preheat your oven before baking your Meringue and set it to the right temperature. I usually bake my Meringue for about 10-12 minutes in an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and the result is always perfect.

How do I make my meringue more chewy?

I heat the oven to relatively high, then turn it right down as soon as the meringue is in, so it puffs up.” As Lepard says, “You are not so much cooking meringue as drying it out, so there’s no great mystery to a chewy one: just

cook it for less time than you normally do

.”

Do you need sugar to make meringue?


Sugar is an essential ingredient in meringue

, serving several functions to turn egg whites into dessert.

Why do you put vinegar in meringue?

Vinegar/lemon juice and cornstarch

help to stabilize the meringue so that it retains its volume and doesn’t collapse

. They also help in creating the characteristically crisp outside and soft inside.

Can I use soft brown sugar instead of golden caster sugar?

Because it still contains molasses, golden caster sugar is acidic. Recipes which use golden caster sugar will usually also ask for bicarbonate of soda.

Depending on which recipe your are using it can be substituted with soft light brown sugar

.

What’s the difference between caster sugar and granulated sugar?

The only difference between caster sugar and granulated sugar is

their texture

. Caster sugar has more finely ground crystals than granulated sugar, which means it dissolves faster than granulated sugar in creamed mixtures and whips.

Does caster sugar taste the same as granulated sugar?

What does caster sugar taste like?

Caster sugar has a sweet taste just like white sugar

. However, it has a finer texture than regular white sugar. When a small amount of caster sugar is placed on the tongue, it dissolves easily.

Which sugar is best for baking?


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.

Does sugar affect meringue?


Sugar is a vital part of meringues

. Besides adding sweetness, sugar helps stabilize the meringue’s structure. When sugar is beaten into an egg-white foam, it dissolves in the protein film on the surface of the air bubbles. This sugary syrup film prevents the proteins from drying out and tightening up too fast.

What happens if you put too much sugar in meringue?

If the sugar is added too early,

the sugar granules interfere with the proteins’ ability to unfold, resulting in a weaker network that can only support small air bubbles

(this is why these cakes and meringues had a finer interior texture).

Will a little bit of egg yolk ruin meringue?

How do you make granulated sugar finer?

Put the amount of granulated white sugar called for in your recipe in a food processor. Add a couple of tablespoons more to compensate for a reduction in overall volume. Process for 1 to 2 minutes until the sugar feels like fine sand, letting the sugar dust settle before opening your food processor to check.

Can I use brown sugar instead of caster sugar?

Substitute for Caster Sugar


Using brown sugar or demerara sugar won’t change the taste of the baked cake

. If you need a substitute for caster sugar for making puddings, pies or pastries, you can use maple syrup or corn syrup.

Can you overbeat meringue?

What are the 3 types of meringue?

  • French Meringue. French meringue is made by first whipping up egg whites until the mixture reaches soft peaks, before gradually adding sugar until the mixture reaches stiff peaks. …
  • Swiss Meringue. Swiss meringue is denser and glossier as compared to its French cousin. …
  • Italian Meringue.

What does cream of tartar do to meringue?

Cream of tartar is often used to stabilize egg whites and

helps provide the characteristic high peaks

in recipes like meringue. If you’re out of cream of tartar in a case like this, lemon juice works as a great substitute.

Can I use brown sugar instead of white sugar in meringue?

A meringue topping makes any pie special, and when made with brown sugar, even more so. This easy meringue is made with the typical egg whites and vanilla, but instead of white sugar,

brown sugar is used

, making the perfect topping for butterscotch, caramel, and banana cream pies.

What does sugar do in meringues?

This is where the other key ingredient of meringue comes in: Sugar! Adding sugar to foamy egg whites

creates a thick and glossy foam

. This foam remains even after you stop whisking. Food scientists believe that sugar helps more proteins gather on the surface of the air bubbles, making the bubbles even more stable.

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.