Have you ever made the decision to bake using your favorite cookie or cake recipe, collected all your items and placed them on the working table, then realized you are missing superfine sugar? It happens to the best of us. While you could dash to the store to get it, sometimes you find yourself in a position that just will not allow you. Best thing is that you do not have to abandon your baking mission, especially if you have some good ol’ granulated sugar. So, how can you make your own superfine sugar at home in a blender?
To make superfine sugar in a blender, all you have to do is add the same amount of sugar that your recipe calls for in the blender and use the pulse function to get that sugar worked well enough until it attains the consistency of fine sugar. However, you have to make sure that your chosen tool (blender) is fitted with stainless steel blades. This is because this kind of blades are sturdy and can be able to work your sugar with ease without having miniature bits and pieces chip away.
Making Superfine Sugar in a Blender; Step by Step Guide
Step 1: Prepare your blender
Being that this is going to be your main work tool, it is important that you make sure it is ready to take up the task. For starters, you have to make sure that the pitcher is clean and devoid of food residue from previous uses. You do not want to have material that could ruin the consistency of your sugar, or that could potentially make you sick.
When you have cleaned the blender pitcher, proceed to dry it thoroughly. It is important that you bear in mind that, due to its hygroscopic nature, sugar absorbs water pretty quickly and becomes a sloppy, sticky mess within seconds. When the water is a little too much, it will end up dissolving. For this reason, you have to make sure that the blender pitcher, the blades and the lid are completely dry. Even small amounts of moisture may cause the sugar to clump and mess your recipe.
Step 2: Grab your weighing scale
When making superfine sugar for a specific recipe, it is important that you weigh it. Otherwise, you may end up making too little or a lot more than you need. Weigh out the specific amount of sugar indicated in the recipe and place it in your blender pitcher.
Step 3: Blend the sugar
Before beginning the bending exercise, grab a clean kitchen towel and cover the sugar. Seeing as you are going to grind it until it is fine and near powdery, you might end up with a mess in your kitchen. Using the pulse function, blend your sugar is short quick bursts. This makes sure that even the sugar at the bottom gets completely blended, and that you are not left with huge chunks of sugar after the exercise. Be sure to check the sugar after every pulse to make sure you do not overprocess it. Too much blending would result in powdered sugar as opposed to superfine sugar. When you are done blending, let the sugar rest for 20 to 30 seconds to allow it to settle properly into the blender to avoid getting some in your eyes and face.
Step 4: Sieve the sugar
When you are done blending your sugar, proceed to pass it through a fine strainer. This step makes sure that any granulated sugar particles that may have been left whole are removed so they do not ruin the consistency of your recipe. Also, any sugar that may have clumped as a result of moisture is removed so that you are left with good quality superfine sugar.
Step 5: Use your Superfine sugar and store excess
When you are done making your sugar, proceed to use it in your recipe as indicated. If you happen to have some left over, place it in an airtight resealable jar for later use. Make sure that the jar will not allow air and humidity so you can be able to maintain integrity.
So, is a blender the best tool for the job?
Many schools of thought have argued that a blender may not be the best piece of equipment to blend your granulated sugar, especially when you are using one that has a plastic pitcher. Sugar is a naturally hard substance, and can, therefore, make multiple scratches on your pitcher that are not too nice to look at.
If you have a glass pitcher, though, you can use it without worrying about any damage to it. if you, however, have a food processor, you will be able to work on your granulated sugar easier and possibly faster, and you do not have to worry about getting your machine ruined.
As an alternative, you can also use a spice grinder, but this would mean only working small batches at the same time. Spice grinders are pretty small and may not be able to accommodate the same quantity of sugar as a blender or food processor.
Can you make powdered sugar from home-made superfine sugar?
When you have made your superfine sugar in a blender, you can actually proceed and make powdered sugar from it. After you have put it in your blender, however, you will have to add a teaspoonful and a half of corn starch before blending.
Still, using the pulse function, proceed to blend the superfine sugar until it is powdery. The reason for the corn starch is so it can keep the sugar fluffy and prevent excess moisture from ruining the overall consistency of the sugar.
Blending granulated sugar into superfine sugar: Summary
Action | Method |
|---|---|
Prepping blender | Make sure the blender pitcher is clean and completely dry |
Prepping sugar | Weigh sugar and put it in blender |
Blending sugar | Blend for 1 to 2 minutes on pulse function |
Store excess | Place in completely airtight jar |
Conclusion
Getting your own superfine sugar from the store is pretty convenient, but when you find that you cannot, you do not have to skip on your baking exercise. You can use granulated sugar and available kitchen equipment to get exactly what you need within a short time. While a blender can do the trick really fast, do not be afraid to take advantage of your food processor or spice grinder if they are available.
