Difference Between Molasses and Blackstrap Molasses

If you’ve ever read a recipe that calls for molasses you might have a picture of a thick dark brown sticky syrup that is known for how slow it makes its way out of the bottle. Molasses is an additive used in a variety of recipes, though it is most notable in any type of bake beans. Depending on the type of molasses that you find, it comes in a variety of different flavors, some are much stronger than others. Aside from the taste, most of the differences that you will experience are as a result of the manufacturing process used to create unsulphured molasses (first boil), sulphured molasses (second boil), and black strap molasses (third boil).

How Do They Make Molasses?

Sugar cane is the main ingredient in molasses and in order to get the thick and sticky syrup, you need to boil the sugar cane down. Depending on the level of boil (First, Second, or Third) it will determine the type of molasses that you get. For example, your first boil will give you unsulphured molasses, the second is sulphured, and the third is black strap.

Making Unsulphured Molasses

First you will have to take the juice out of matured sugar cane plants. Once this is completed, you will then have to boil all of the juices to make a sugar cane concentrate that will eventually turn into crystallized sugar. This particular type of molasses is quite popular as it is the finest quality possible. The sugar cane that it is derived from has matured in the sun and offers a high clarity and concentrated juice. Since the least amount of sugar has been removed, it surely makes it the most popular.

Making Sulphured Molasses

Sulphured molasses is made from green sugar cane that hasn’t had the ability to mature long enough. During its lifetime it is treated with sulphur fumes in order to have the sugar extracted. To get sulphured molasses you’ll follow the same step as with unsulphured. You then remove the crystallized sugar and boil the residue down again, creating a darkened mixture, as the leftover sugar will caramelize. After the 2nd boil you’ll have your unsulphured mixture.

Making Black Strap Molasses

Black strap molasses is the type of formula that you are generally told to avoid when it comes to making baked goods simply because it doesn’t have the nice sweetness as the first boil formula. Most of the time when you see black strap molasses included in something it’ll be for industrial purposes, animal feed, or specialty consumables such as medicines. When you decide that you want to make black strap molasses you’re going to need the mature sugar cane plant and you have to boil it down 3 times. By the third boil the majority of the sugar will be removed and all you’ll have left is a thick brown residue. Since it has such a low sugar content, that is why it is generally avoided for most baking and cooking purposes.

The Benefits of Sulphured and Unsulphured Molasses

One of the largest benefits that you’ll experience from this level of molasses is the fact that all of the empty calories are removed and there’s a ton of nutrition left behind. It’s still sweet but it also includes iron, magnesium, sodium, copper, potassium, manganese, thiamine, selenium, niacin, choline, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and much more. If you come across sulphured molasses you can rest assured that it will still have the same nutritional benefits as unsulphured and it is 100% safe for human consumption. The only time that you should be concerned is if you have a potent allergy to food preservatives that contain sulphur.

The Benefits of Black Strap Molasses

You would be surprised to know that there are even more nutritional benefits to black strap molasses than the sweeter unsulphured or sulphured formulas. All of the same vitamins and minerals are included but in a more concentrated form, meaning that you will be getting even less calories and more healthy nutrients that you body needs. There are also a variety of antioxidants that you’ll be ingesting in your system which are essential for reducing the damage that free radicals have on your system. Since black strap molasses can also be purchased in sulphured and unsulphered formulas, if you have a particular allergy make sure that you choose the appropriate formula.

Even though many people always assumed that molasses only came in one form, there are actually 3 different types that vary based on the way that they are created and the health benefits that they provide. With black strap molasses being the least popular (in terms of flavor) it is also the healthiest and cleanest way to get nutrition out of the other 2 forms.

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