What is Fructose Powder?

Fructose is a naturally occurring sugar primarily found in fruits. You can also find it in plants, honey, vegetables, and sugar cane. It is a monosaccharide, otherwise known as a simple carbohydrate, like sucrose or glucose. You may find fructose in a few different forms, like crystalline, powder, or in a liquid syrup like agave or high fructose corn syrup.

Fructose powder, sometimes called fruit sugar, is the sweetest of all the naturally occurring sugars. It's anywhere from 1.2 to 1.8 times sweeter than typical granulated table sugar. Fructose powder's added sweetness lends it to some unique and strategic uses. Fructose powder can be the secret ingredient for some sweet desserts when used correctly, even for those looking to cut back on their sugar intake. Read on for more about the interesting uses and benefits of adding fructose powder to your next batch of baked goods.

How is Fructose Powder Used?

Virtually any recipe can use fructose powder or any of its variations. Bakeries can use fructose powder as a substitute for granulated sugar in smaller amounts. Fructose also alters the texture of baked goods. Fructose doesn't recrystallize when combined with other ingredients, as it attracts more water. This produces an end result that will remain moist longer, ideal for recipes like cookies and cakes. Bakeries looking for a way to improve the texture, taste, and longevity of their products may want to experiment with using fructose powder in their products.

Fructose blends well into beverages because of its humectant properties, meaning it is better at absorbing water than other sugars or sweeteners. Fructose powder is a popular choice for anyone who wants to add a small amount of sugar to gain a lot of sweetness.

How to Use Fructose Power in Baking

As mentioned above, there are plenty of benefits and unique properties to using fructose powder. Here are a couple of tips and reminders to consider when handling fructose while baking:

• The sweetness presented in fructose doesn't linger as long as it does with other sugars. If you're wanting a dessert with less residual sweetness, fructose is an excellent option.
• Fructose is much sweeter than sucrose. As a rule of thumb, you should use one-third less fructose powder when used as a substitute for sugar in a recipe.
• Fructose powder helps pastries rise higher, so you won't have to worry about making up for the smaller volume in the recipe.
• Keep in mind that fructose caramelizes faster, so you will want to set the oven temperature about 25 degrees lower than normal.

Are There Health Benefits for Fructose Powder?

Before processed sugars came around, humans didn't consume large amounts of fructose. As a result, both the health benefits and risks of fructose powder are still being carefully studied. Even though it's considered a natural substance when referring to the amounts found in fruits and vegetables, fructose is also considered to be "added sugar" when included in processed or packaged food and beverages. This duality means there are both benefits and risks to consuming fructose.

Health Benefits:

Unlike other natural sugars, the glycemic index is low, so it doesn't cause a spike in blood sugar levels. Those with diabetes can look to fructose powder as a safer sweetener option.

Fructose can still be a better alternative to some artificial sugars that may cause undesirable side effects, particularly those involving gut health.

You can use less fructose powder than other sugars since it's naturally sweeter. This can be an advantage if you're looking to cut back on the amount of added sugar in your products. Because you can use a smaller amount of fructose, you may be able to moderate consumption easier than other types of sugars.

Health Risks:

Of course, even natural sugars like fructose should be enjoyed in moderation as well. Excessive consumption of any sugar can bring unwanted side effects like obesity and heart disease. Unfortunately, the liver is the only body part capable of breaking down fructose, whereas every cell in the body can break down sucrose. This puts extra strain on the liver for digesting too much fructose.

Although you can find smaller amounts of fructose in fruits and fruit juices, it is also one of the main components of high fructose corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup, while a completely different product from fructose powder, can cause its own share of health complications due to the highly processed nature of the product. Fructose in its natural form, like powdered fructose, doesn't pose nearly the same threat.

Ultimately, fructose is really no better or worse than any other sugar. Nutritionally, fructose is nearly identical to sucrose, both containing approximately four calories per gram. When used in moderation, any undesirable health hazards can be avoided.

Where to Buy Fructose Powder in Bulk

If your bakery is looking to take its pastries to the next level, or you would like to offer diabetic-friendly baked goods, consider purchasing fructose powder. For reliable bulk sugar and sweetener purchases, find your next shipment at Indiana Sugars.

If you've liked the results of using fructose powder, then you're in luck. We're your top stop for bulk sugar and sweetener purchases. So, whether you need powdered fructose or other powdered sweeteners, granulated sweeteners, or liquid sweeteners, you can get all you need from one place: Indiana Sugars.

Fulfill your sweetener needs today with timely shipments from one of our locations across the country. There's really no competition when it comes to our quality products and service. With us, you receive a century's worth of family-run experience, where we've worked with all kinds of businesses and industries. Reach out to us today so we can get you started with the right products you need. Fructose powder is just one of our many sweetener options. Browse our catalog to view all available products.