I made the "Keep-a-week Coleslaw. It called for 10 tsp. of Splenda, so I used 10 of the individual packets. Almost had a 'sugar high' when I tasted it. Does it make a difference and should I be using the pourable Splenda?
Kay

One thing I've noticed, especially with baking, is when it calls for sweetner start with about half of what's listed in the recipe. I don't know why but alot of recipes I've tried are way to sweet, you can definitely reduce the amount of sweetner in the recipe and it turns out better.

I'm quoting this from a post by Doreen...

"The standard sweetness for the little individual paper packets of sweetener is -- one packet equals the sweetness of 2 tsp of sugar. This is true for all, beause I've checked .. .. so Equal, Splenda, SugarTwin, NoName ... doesn't matter what is the actual measure of powder within the packet. Just remember, the whole packet gives equivalent sweetness to 2 tsp.

For the granular sweeteners which come bulk in a box or jar, these have been fluffed up with fillers (usually maltodextrin) to measure exactly spoon-for-spoon as sugar.

Note also, for Splenda, the carb count is the same whether you use the bulk granular stuff, or the little packets. For example ...

If your recipe calls for sweetener to equal 1 cup of sugar, you would use 1 cup of the bulk granular Splenda. According to the box, one tsp (5 ml) of the bulk product has 0.5 carbs. There are 48 tsp per cup (yes, I double-checked this) so 48 x 0.5 = 24 carbs for the 1 cup measure.

With the little paper packets, each packet = 2 tsp of sweetness. So, to get equivalent to 1 cup, you would use 24 packets (24 x 2 tsp = 48) Right? According to the box, each packet has 1 carb gram. Therefore, 24 packets = 24 carbs.

Don't worry about the actual tsp. measure of the little packets. They are much more concentrated, so only a tiny amount of powder to give the same sweet taste. Just count the # of packets, and you'll be fine.

To calculate the reverse, ie, your recipe calls for 6 packets of Splenda, and you have the bulk granular stuff ----- remember that 6 packets = 12 tsp. sweetness. So, you'd use 12 tsp (or 4 Tbsp) of the granular. "

Karen

Basically, boxed Splenda has fillers that make it equal to sugar in density. Packeted Splenda does not. If you're using packets, halve the amount.

Is this a good summary?

Moved this thread to the Kitchen: Techniques and Tips since it really had nothing to do with questions concerning the Atkin's diet.

Thanks so much for the info!!
I'm always in a quandry when it comes to replying as to which is the right forum, so I appreciate knowing where this type of ? should go in the future.

Both the bulk sweeteners that you measure like sugar, and the powder that comes in a paper packet/ sachet has filler added. The most common fillers are maltodextrin and/or dextrose.

The reason filler is required is because the artificial sweeteners, which have no carbs or calories themselves. are so intensely sweet. In fact, the industry calls them "intense sweeteners" as opposed to "artificial sweeteners". They are typically hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, so a tiny dot is all that's needed to make the sweetness of one or two teaspoons of sugar. However, it's not practical for the average Joe to measure "a tiny dot". So, they add fillers to make a powder that we can see and use. Including in the little paper packets.

If you can find tablet form of your preferred sweetener, these usually contain less filler, and consequently less carbs. If you can find liquid, that's even better, since the "filler" is water Splenda is NOT available in liquid form in North America.

hth,

Doreen

Seems like a good time to revive this thread, the info is STILL valid and helpful, and hardly anybody seems to look at the FAQ anyway (which also has good stuff, and lots of it) ...

Isn't Sweetzfree liquid Splenda? I am able to get it in the U.S.

Those posts were all about packets and granular, when it first came out and was becoming readily available in the States.

Those posts were also dated 2002.

Even today, the "liquid splenda" isn't really legal because Splenda is a registered trade or brand name name, LICENSED for use ($) wherever you see it on a label.

The sweetzfree (and fiberfit and sweetwater, etc.) are all Sucralose (the "generic" ingredient in Splenda) in water at different concentrations...AND weren't available commonly until the very last few years.

Note also that in this international forum, only the US market has the liquid sucralose available so far, and nobody has -- because it isn't made -- the liquid Splenda (legal brand name)...

Confusing, but true.

The original point was the difference between packets and granular...