What Is Invert Sugar And What Is It Used For?

One of the many sweeteners you can find in industrial products is invert sugar. It stands out for its sweetening characteristics. For this reason, we are going to tell you what invert sugar is and how you can best take advantage of it.

Consuming too much invert sugar is not healthy. You should therefore eat it sporadically, as it generates harmful insulin spikes. It’s okay to include these types of products in your diet from time to time. However, you should not use it regularly.

How to make invert sugar

To make invert sugar, you have to subject table sugar to a chemical reaction called hydrolysis. This process breaks down sucrose to form a mixture of glucose and fructose.

This mechanism can occur spontaneously, for example when making jam. Adding lemon to the fruit and sugar creates this breakdown that produces this product. It is even possible to find it in nature, for example in maple syrup.

You can also make your own invert sugar. For this you need gasifying substances that are common in the bakery and confectionery. These substances are made from baking soda and tartaric acid.

You need to mix baking soda with table sugar and heat the mixture with water until it boils. Then add the tartaric acid and let the mixture cool to get invert sugar.

Product Applications

Invert sugar is used in industrial products to improve their palatability. This fabric also allows you to vary other organoleptic characteristics, such as texture. Since it plays a role in fermentation processes, it is often included in bakery products along with leavening agents.

On the other hand, invert sugar is often added to products so that they do not dry out or become rancid too quickly. So it helps to extend their shelf life.

It performs a crucial function in ice. This ingredient can prevent the formation of large ice crystals, which improves the texture of ice cream and facilitates its formation.

You should not consume it regularly

Despite its ability to enhance the taste of foods, remember that invert sugar is also a simple carbohydrate. According to research published in Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, regular intake of these macronutrients is associated with an increased risk of metabolic disease.

In addition, consuming fructose-rich foods can cause liver disease. There is scientific evidence that intake of this substance increases the risk of fatty liver.

On the other hand, according to experts, sugar could cause a certain addiction. Experts therefore advise against regularly including one of the variants in your diet. Yes, you can indulge yourself from time to time. You don’t have to eliminate it completely or forever.

Alternatives to Invert Sugar

To satisfy the sweet tooth in you, it is best to resort to foods that contain a certain amount of fructose, although they are accompanied by other high-quality nutrients.

We are talking about fruit here and you can include it in your diet in many different ways. It is recommended to eat them as they are. However, you can occasionally crush them and consume them in the form of porridge or puree. You can also mix them with other ingredients to make healthy baked goods (Spanish link).

In this way you reduce the impact and pancreatic stress associated with eating table sugar as such. You also provide your body with phytonutrients, which have antioxidant properties. This is also a great way to provide your body with vitamins, which are essential for proper cell function.

Invert sugar, a powerful sweetener

As you have seen, invert sugar is a product obtained from table sugar. Its use is limited to the manufacture of industrial products.

One of its most important features is its ability to improve the taste and texture of food. However, it has a low nutritional value (Spanish link), as it only contains carbohydrates with a high glycemic index. The absorption of these nutrients can affect medium- and long-term health.

This doesn’t mean you can’t consume invert sugar from time to time. You can even make it at home and add it to confectionery products (Spanish link) to make them tastier and improve the texture.

However, if you have a sugar craving, we recommend that you prioritize the intake of fruit as such before resorting to table sugar or any of its derivatives.