How to Choose an Artificial Sweetener
Know what the most common artificial sweeteners are and what brands offer them., Taste the artificial sweeteners., Dissolve the sweetener in 8 fluid oz., Determine how much you are willing to spend.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Know what the most common artificial sweeteners are and what brands offer them.
There are many artificial sweeteners found in packaged food, but there are only 4 common artificial sweeteners widely available to consumers in either bulk form or pre-packaged individual serving sizes.
Splenda:
This is the artificial sweetener sucralose and is 600 times sweeter than sugar.
Sucralose is calorie free and will not affect blood sugar levels.
This sweetener works well for both hot and cold food applications because it has high water solubility and retains its sweetness without developing bitter notes when heated.
It can be purchased in individual packets or in a baking mix that has either sugar or maltodextrin in it.
Currently, Splenda has a sucralose product with fiber for those looking to increase fiber in their diet.
Baking with sucralose can change the texture of food because of the reduced amount needed to achieve sweetness and because it does not melt as well as sugar.
Sweet One:
This is the artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium (also labeled as acesulfame K) and is 200 times sweeter than sugar.
This sweetener works well for beverages and will work well for baking when combined with other sweeteners to bulk it up and help mask a slight bitter note.
It doesn’t add any color when cooking, but when used in combination with sugar, it can achieve a golden brown color.
Sweet One is mainly sold in individual packets where 1 packet is as sweet as 2 teaspoons of sugar.
Acesulfame potassium is calorie free and will not affect blood sugar levels.
Sweet N’ Low:
This is the artificial sweetener saccharin and is 300 times sweeter than sugar.
This sweetener works best in cold items, such as beverages and whipped cream.
However, saccharin does not dissolve readily in cold water.
Saccharin doesn’t work well when heated because it develops a bitter taste, but combining it with other sweeteners will mask the bitterness.
Sweet N’ Low is available in many forms, including a brown sugar substitute.
It is calorie free and has no effect on blood sugar.
Saccharin is not recommended for children or pregnant women due to studies showing that saccharin is a possible carcinogen.
It is considered safe for use as an artificial sweetener in the US, and since 2000 has not had to carry a warning label.
Equal:
This is the artificial sweetener aspartame and is 200 times sweeter than sugar.
It works well with cold items, but loses sweetness when heated and is not recommended for baking.
Equal is mainly sold in individual packets where 1 packet is as sweet as 2 teaspoons of sugar.
Aspartame provides 4 calories per gram and has little effect on blood sugar -
Step 2: Taste the artificial sweeteners.
The amount of sugar 1 packet replaces should be on the package.
You should start with a clean palette when tasting.
Clean your palette by eating a cracker and drinking some room temperature water (cold or hot water will affect taste buds and may change perception of sweet and bitter) before and after tasting.
Take note of the differences between them and decide which you like best plain. , of water.
Dissolving the sweetener in water will tell you 2 things about the sweetener:
First, how soluble the sweetener is in water, and, second, how it tastes when diluted.
This is helpful when deciding if it will go good in a beverage or in a recipe.
If the sweetener doesn’t dissolve well, then it won’t work well for cold items or some recipes that have little moisture in them.
If the sweetener is still very sweet when diluted, then you know you will need to use less and vice versa. , All artificial sweeteners are more expensive than sugar, but you can use less.
Check the prices per serving by dividing the price by the amount of servings listed on the package.
Some will be much more expensive than others and may help determine which artificial sweetener is right for you. -
Step 3: Dissolve the sweetener in 8 fluid oz.
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Step 4: Determine how much you are willing to spend.
Detailed Guide
There are many artificial sweeteners found in packaged food, but there are only 4 common artificial sweeteners widely available to consumers in either bulk form or pre-packaged individual serving sizes.
Splenda:
This is the artificial sweetener sucralose and is 600 times sweeter than sugar.
Sucralose is calorie free and will not affect blood sugar levels.
This sweetener works well for both hot and cold food applications because it has high water solubility and retains its sweetness without developing bitter notes when heated.
It can be purchased in individual packets or in a baking mix that has either sugar or maltodextrin in it.
Currently, Splenda has a sucralose product with fiber for those looking to increase fiber in their diet.
Baking with sucralose can change the texture of food because of the reduced amount needed to achieve sweetness and because it does not melt as well as sugar.
Sweet One:
This is the artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium (also labeled as acesulfame K) and is 200 times sweeter than sugar.
This sweetener works well for beverages and will work well for baking when combined with other sweeteners to bulk it up and help mask a slight bitter note.
It doesn’t add any color when cooking, but when used in combination with sugar, it can achieve a golden brown color.
Sweet One is mainly sold in individual packets where 1 packet is as sweet as 2 teaspoons of sugar.
Acesulfame potassium is calorie free and will not affect blood sugar levels.
Sweet N’ Low:
This is the artificial sweetener saccharin and is 300 times sweeter than sugar.
This sweetener works best in cold items, such as beverages and whipped cream.
However, saccharin does not dissolve readily in cold water.
Saccharin doesn’t work well when heated because it develops a bitter taste, but combining it with other sweeteners will mask the bitterness.
Sweet N’ Low is available in many forms, including a brown sugar substitute.
It is calorie free and has no effect on blood sugar.
Saccharin is not recommended for children or pregnant women due to studies showing that saccharin is a possible carcinogen.
It is considered safe for use as an artificial sweetener in the US, and since 2000 has not had to carry a warning label.
Equal:
This is the artificial sweetener aspartame and is 200 times sweeter than sugar.
It works well with cold items, but loses sweetness when heated and is not recommended for baking.
Equal is mainly sold in individual packets where 1 packet is as sweet as 2 teaspoons of sugar.
Aspartame provides 4 calories per gram and has little effect on blood sugar
The amount of sugar 1 packet replaces should be on the package.
You should start with a clean palette when tasting.
Clean your palette by eating a cracker and drinking some room temperature water (cold or hot water will affect taste buds and may change perception of sweet and bitter) before and after tasting.
Take note of the differences between them and decide which you like best plain. , of water.
Dissolving the sweetener in water will tell you 2 things about the sweetener:
First, how soluble the sweetener is in water, and, second, how it tastes when diluted.
This is helpful when deciding if it will go good in a beverage or in a recipe.
If the sweetener doesn’t dissolve well, then it won’t work well for cold items or some recipes that have little moisture in them.
If the sweetener is still very sweet when diluted, then you know you will need to use less and vice versa. , All artificial sweeteners are more expensive than sugar, but you can use less.
Check the prices per serving by dividing the price by the amount of servings listed on the package.
Some will be much more expensive than others and may help determine which artificial sweetener is right for you.
About the Author
Jerry Martin
Enthusiastic about teaching DIY projects techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
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