Is sugar also a preservative? (2024)

Yes sugar is preservative

Preservation by Sugar

When sugar is added to foods it binds to the water in the foods reducing the amount of water that is available for the growth of microorganisms .When foods are placed in a concentrated sugar solution water is drawn out of the cells of foods and microorganisms so that microorganisms can no longer survive.Sugar reduces the moisture content which inhibits the growth of bacteria which spoil food.sugar has a very long history in food preservation- it has been used extensively in the preservation of fruits such as apples and pears and in the production of a wide range of products such as jams and jellies, fruit juice and sweetened products such as condensed milk.