Brown Sugar Uses and Benefits | Interesting ways to use Brown Sugar in your kitchen

There are many kinds of sweeteners available in the market for use but the use of refined sugar is popular and common. Brown sugar use is another choice and it has varieties in taste and form as well. The natural brown sugar use is healthier and popular in many cultures. It is chemical-free and has trace amounts of nutrition such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and potassium. 
The refined sugar is processed with sulphur dioxide, phosphoric acid and activated carbon etc which removes the molasses. The molasses gives a particular form and flavour to the brown sugar. The use of soft brown sugar is the best of all for one's health since it is the least processed. It also contains moisture, is less weighty, and contains fewer calories than refined sugar. 

Brown sugar use in place of refined sugar

The brown sugar has a natural taste of sugarcane and in countries like Pakistan and India, it is commonly used in making sweet dishes. It is not chemically processed and is made from sugarcane juice cooked in a large pot. The sugar cane juice dries up and takes the form of gur or jaggery. The brown sugar is the powdered form of jaggery ( hand-formed lumps of dry molasses). Some people prefer it in tea instead of refined sugar. It has a particularly rich flavour liked by many people. 
Since it contains fewer calories, it is a good substitute for chemically refined sugar. It is used in sauces and glazes for meat and other dishes. People who are weight conscious often prefer to use naturally refined sugar in drinks instead of refined white sugar. Brown sugar use is very common in the sweet dishes in eastern culture. One common sweet dish is sweet rice or rice prepared with brown sugar. The unmatched aroma and taste of brown sugar are much more superior to that of regular chemically processed white sugar. 

Categories and substitution of Brown sugar

In the current market, there is not one unprocessed kind of brown sugar available. It is processed differently than white sugar. It comes in different textures and sizes of granules. You can choose between various varieties. The soft brown sugar mixes well with flour while baking while the raw brown sugar does not dissolve in the cake or biscuit batter and makes it grainy. 
Refined sugar gives a better taste with vanilla but you will see the cakes and cookies with cinnamon usually have brown sugar as a sweetener.  If you want to change the flavour of your sweet dishes or drinks and want fewer calories, the use of natural brown sugar is certainly an option for you.

Brown sugar uses in baking

Brown sugar use can work well in baking when combined with cinnamon or sprinkled on bread slices. If you want a moist and heavy piece of baked stuff, you might prefer brown sugar instead of refined white sugar. The use of brown sugar is mandatory in some recipes such as brown sugar cookies. Many banana bread recipes only taste well with brown sugar use.
 Many recipes for cakes, cookies, pies, muffins, and other baked stuff would use light or dark brown sugar. Dark brown sugar has a higher content of molasses than light brown sugar. For those who want to achieve a darker colour, richer flavour and moist texture in a baked item should go for dark brown sugar. For more subtle taste, sweetness, and less of an intense molasses flavour, one can use light brown sugar. 

Brown sugar use in pickling a variety of food

Pickled vegetables or eggs get their mixed flavours from a combination of herbs, spices, salt, and vinegar through the use of brown sugar balances the acidic taste of any mixture of spices. Having its own aroma and flavour, it adds better taste to any pickled treat than regular sugar.
Brown sugar use in stir-fried vegetables is ideal when you aim to balance out any salty notes. Add it to the stir-fried carrots to make them caramelized and sweetened. 

Brown sugar use in marinades, salad dressings and meat dishes

Brown sugar adds more depth and subtle taste to marinades for meat when garlic, ginger, salt and vinegar are the main ingredients. For sweet and savoury meat dishes, brown sugar is always a preferred option. For a caramelized look, flavour and sheen, brown sugar is used with all meat kinds, fish and poultry.
Brown sugar and cinnamon powder go together in many recipes including banana bread. Let's not forget the caramelized popcorns when brown sugar is the main ingredient to coat the popcorns.
Dijon mustard, cayenne pepper, basil and brown sugar makes an irresistible salad dressing. Tamarind sauce is better tasted with the infusion of dark brown sugar. 
In reality, raw brown sugar or jaggery is more expensive than white sugar but it is a better investment for your health in the long run.