How to Use Stevia

Posted on October 11th, 2009 by Elaine

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Stevia is a plant that belongs to the sunflower family, known for its sweet leaves that can sweeten and enhance the flavor of various of dishes and food items. It’s a natural and healthy sweetener, better than the artificial types available in the market. If you want to learn how to use stevia, here are a few helpful tips to remember.

Purchase powdered stevia leaves or stevia leaf tablets. You can buy these in groceries or health food stores. You should also know that you can’t use stevia like regular sugar. There’s a conversion chart that must be followed, otherwise you’ll end up putting in too much. It’s said that one teaspoon of stevia is equivalent to the sweetness given by one cup of white sugar.

stevia

For hot and cold drinks, it’s advisable to use the leaf tablets. For example, hot chocolate can be made by combining rice or soy milk with tablets and cocoa powder, then heating slowly, so they will blend well
Sprinkle stevia powder over hot or cold cereals, such as oatmeal, corn flakes and wheat bran. You can also add a dash to salad dressing or cold sauces.
You can bake using stevia. It has a heat stability of 392n degrees Fahrenheit. Mix it in cakes, cookies, bread and even pastry. Check the recipe and the sugar needed for it. Use only half or one-third of the recommended amount. When mixing in the batter, you can add it to egg whites, whisking it in properly. Afterwards, add the egg whites to the batter. This helps improve the volume and texture of the pastry.
When adding to recipes that require simmering or cooking, such as for creams, puddings, glazing and hot sauces, put the stevia at the beginning, since it might cause the recipe to thin a little. Add a small amount first, then taste the mixture. This will prevent you from oversweetening the mix
Sweetening fruits with stevia is a great idea. Just sprinkle the powder over tart apples, pear, or even grapefruit.
Increase the sweetening power of other sweeteners, such as honey, by adding stevia.
You can use stevia to relieve your midday sweet cravings, too. Put a leaf in your mouth, instead of reaching for a bar of chocolate. It also removes the urge for cigarettes and alcohol (More tips on how to get rid of alcoholism). Stevia can also help with ailments such as upset stomach and bleeding gums.

Stevia is, without a doubt, a very helpful herb to have around the house. The next time you reach for an artificial sweetener, use this plant instead! If you learn from this article, might as well read how to substitute sugar.