Baking and cooking tips

• Did you know that it is the sugar content of biscuits and cookies that gives them that appetising golden brown colour?


• When baking, cream your sugar with your butter or margarine VERY WELL, as this incorporates air into the mixture, which contributes to a much lighter baked product.


• Sprinkle a little Huletts Castor Sugar over the top of custard to prevent a skin from forming.


• Adding a pinch of sugar to dishes containing tomatoes will counteract the acidity of the tomatoes and leave a smoother taste.


• Sugar not only lengthens the freshness of baked goods, but is crucial when using a recipe that calls for yeast. Sugar hastens the rising of the dough, and improves both the texture and taste of breads and cakes.


• To keep your biscuits fresh, add a sugar cube to the container. It will absorb any moisture in the air before the biscuits do.


• Sugar helps to delay the coagulation of protein in eggs, improving the texture of baked goods. For example, it helps to prevent custard from splitting during cooking, and ensures a smooth texture.


• Coat your fresh fruit with a layer of sugar before freezing, or freeze them in sugar syrup.


• When sugar is stored properly (in a cool, dry place) it will last for years, and is often used as a natural preservative, for example in canned fruit, jams and marmalades.


• Sugar should form part of a well-balanced diet and, if eaten in moderation, will not have any harmful effects on health, such as obesity or skin disorders.