White sugar is a widely-used, versatile ingredient often featured in recipes for baked goods, drinks, sauces, and more. This pantry staple, known scientifically as sucrose, is the granulated or crystallized product of refined sugarcane or sugar beet. White sugar adds a sweet flavor when mixed with other ingredients, making it integral to countless dishes. With its fine, grainy texture, it melts and mixes easily, assisting not only in taste but in food's form as well. It is a key component in caramelization, assists in creating volume, provides moisture, and aids in the preservation of food. Additionally, it imparts a pleasing golden color to baked goods. However, due to its high calorie content, it should be used judiciously to maintain a balanced diet.

White sugar can typically be found in the baking aisle of a grocery store. It's usually placed with other sweeteners like brown sugar, powdered sugar, and artificial sweeteners.