How to Make Sugar From Beets

Years ago, when sugar was an expensive commodity, many people of lesser means made their own sugar from sugar beets. Every farm and every home garden had a spot reserved for beets, and a day was set aside to cook the beets down into sugar. While beet sugar is now out of favor and most people no longer raise sugar beets in their gardens, making sugar is a wonderful project for kids. The process is simple and easy; just follow the below steps.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A pound or more of sugar beets
• A large pan
• Colander

1. Wash and scrub the beets to remove any dirt or residue.

2. Chop small or shred the beets.

3. Place the beets into a large pot and add enough water to keep them from sticking. Cook until the beets are soft and are losing their color.

4. Strain the beets, reserving the juice. Freeze the cooked beets for Borscht, cakes or dispose of, if desired.

5. Put the juice back on the stove and let it simmer until it reaches a thick, syrupy consistency. Stir constantly. The syrup should be similar in thickness to honey or corn syrup.

6. Remove from heat and let cool. As the syrup cools it will begin to crystallize. Cover with a dish towel or cheesecloth and let sit overnight.

7. Remove the crystallized beet sugar from the pan. Pound or otherwise break into small sugar crystals.

8. Use as you would store-bought sugar. Store as you would any sugar.

Tips & Warnings

• Beet sugar will not be pure white like store-bought sugar. It will still have a tinge of color.
• Beet sugar is better for you nutritionally than refined white sugar.

[RoseyP]

on 5/26/2009 Just what I was looking for. Thank you.