Squash vs. Syrup — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 11, 2024
Squash is a concentrated liquid meant to be diluted with water to create a drink, while syrup is a thick, viscous liquid used as a sweetener or flavoring.
Difference Between Squash and Syrup
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Squash is typically a non-alcoholic beverage concentrate made from fruit juice, water, and sugar or sweeteners. It's designed to be mixed with water (still or sparkling) to create a flavored drink, often fruit-flavored, and is popular as a refreshing, hydrating option. In contrast, syrup, particularly when referred to in the context of food and beverages, is a dense, sweet liquid made by dissolving sugar in water or by reducing natural sweet juices like maple, corn, or cane juice. Syrups are used to sweeten or add flavor to a variety of food and drinks, such as pancakes, waffles, coffees, and cocktails.
While squash is primarily consumed as a beverage once diluted, syrup serves multiple purposes, including being an ingredient in cooking and baking, a topping for desserts, and a sweetener for drinks. This versatility makes syrup a staple in both the culinary and beverage industries, whereas squash is mainly confined to the beverage category.
The production process for each also differs; squash is made by blending fruit juice with water and sweeteners, sometimes including preservatives and flavorings, to create a concentrated mixture. On the other hand, syrup is produced by simmering sugar and water or extracting the natural juices from sources like fruits or trees until a thickened liquid forms. This process concentrates the flavors and sweetness, making syrups richer and denser than squash concentrates.
Regarding nutritional content, both squash and syrup are high in sugars, but the specific nutritional value can vary widely based on the ingredients used. Squash, when diluted, typically contains fewer calories per serving compared to an equivalent volume of syrup, which is denser and more calorie-rich due to its higher sugar concentration.
Despite these differences, both squash and syrup can be found in a variety of flavors, reflecting their roles in adding sweetness and flavor to food and beverages. However, squash is more likely to be available in fruit flavors reflecting its origin as a fruit concentrate, while syrups can range from fruit flavors to more exotic and dessert-like flavors, such as chocolate, vanilla, or caramel.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A concentrated liquid to be diluted with water to create a drink.
A thick, viscous liquid used as a sweetener or flavoring.
Primary Use
Beverage concentrate for dilution.
Sweetener for foods and beverages, ingredient in cooking and baking.
Composition
Made from fruit juice, water, and sugar or sweeteners.
Made by dissolving sugar in water or reducing natural sweet juices.
Consistency
Concentrated liquid, thinner than syrup.
Thick and viscous.
Varieties
Primarily fruit-flavored.
Wide range, including fruit, dessert, and exotic flavors.
Nutritional Content
Generally high in sugars, calories vary by dilution.
High in sugars and calories due to dense sugar content.
Compare with Definitions
Squash
A fruit-flavored beverage concentrate.
She made a refreshing drink by mixing orange squash with water.
Syrup
A thick liquid used as a sweetener or flavor enhancer.
Maple syrup is a natural sweetener made from the sap of maple trees.
Squash
Often limited to fruit flavors.
Berry squash is a favorite among children for its sweet taste.
Syrup
As a topping or ingredient in foods and drinks.
Syrup is a versatile sweetener for pancakes, coffees, and cocktails.
Squash
Liquid, meant to be diluted.
The concentrate of squash is much less viscous than syrup.
Syrup
Includes fruit, dessert, and exotic flavors.
Vanilla syrup adds a sweet, aromatic flavor to lattes and baked goods.
Squash
To be diluted with water for a refreshing beverage.
Squash is a popular choice for a quick, homemade soft drink.
Syrup
Thick and viscous, suitable for pouring over desserts.
Chocolate syrup is a popular topping for ice cream.
Squash
Typically includes fruit juice, sweeteners, and water.
Lemon squash contains real lemon juice and is sweetened with sugar.
Syrup
Sugar dissolved in water or natural sweet juices.
Corn syrup is made by processing cornstarch into a thick, sweet liquid.
Squash
The fruit of any of these plants, eaten as a vegetable.
Syrup
In cooking, a syrup or sirup (from Arabic: شراب; sharāb, beverage, wine and Latin: sirupus) is a condiment that is a thick, viscous liquid consisting primarily of a solution of sugar in water, containing a large amount of dissolved sugars but showing little tendency to deposit crystals. Its consistency is similar to that of molasses.
Squash
The act or sound of squashing.
Syrup
A thick, sweet liquid made by dissolving sugar in boiling water, often used for preserving fruit.
Squash
Something that has been squashed.
Syrup
A wig
He has been bald for the past twenty years, his shame concealed by a syrup of some opulence
Squash
A crushed or crowded mass
A squash of people.
Syrup
A thick, sweet, sticky liquid, consisting of a sugar base, natural or artificial flavorings, and water.
Squash
(Sports) A game played on a four-walled court by two or four players who use long-handled rackets to hit a small rubber ball against the front wall, with play stopping if the ball bounces twice on the floor or does not reach the front wall after a stroke. Also called squash rackets.
Syrup
A thick, sugary liquid made by boiling down or otherwise concentrating plant sap, juice, or grain extracts.
Squash
Chiefly British A citrus-based soft drink.
Syrup
A concentrated solution of sugar in water, often used as a vehicle for medicine.
Squash
To beat, squeeze, or press into a pulp or a flattened mass; crush.
Syrup
Any thick liquid that has a high sugar content and which is added to or poured over food as a flavouring.
Maple syrup
Pancake syrup
Peaches in syrup
Squash
To put down or suppress; quash
Squash a revolt.
Syrup
(by extension) Any viscous liquid.
Cough syrup
Squash
To silence or fluster, as with crushing words
Squash a heckler.
Syrup
A wig.
Squash
To become crushed, flattened, or pulpy, as by pressure or impact.
Syrup
(transitive) To convert or process into syrup.
Squash
To move with a splashing or sucking sound, as when walking through boggy ground.
Syrup
(transitive) To add syrup to.
Squash
With a squashing sound.
Syrup
(transitive) To sabotage (a vehicle) by pouring syrup into the gas tank.
Squash
(uncountable) A sport played in a walled court with a soft rubber ball and bats like tennis racquets.
Syrup
Same as Sirup, Sirupy.
Squash
(British) A soft drink made from a fruit-based concentrate diluted with water.
When I'm thirsty I drink squash; it tastes much nicer than plain water.
Syrup
A thick sweet sticky liquid
Squash
A place or a situation where people have limited space to move.
It's a bit of a squash in this small room.
Squash
(biology) A preparation made by placing material on a slide flat, rectangular piece of glass, covering it and applying pressure.
Squash
Something soft and easily crushed; especially, an unripe pod of peas.
Squash
Something unripe or soft.
Squash
A sudden fall of a heavy, soft body; also, a shock of soft bodies.
Squash
An extremely one-sided, usually short, match.
Squash
A plant and its fruit of any of a few species of the genus Cucurbita, or gourd kind.
Squash
Cucurbita maxima, including hubbard squash, great winter squash, buttercup squash, and some varieties of pumpkins.
Squash
Cucurbita argyrosperma (syn. Cucurbita mixta), cushaw squash.
Squash
Cucurbita moschata, butternut squash, Barbary squash, China squash.
Squash
Cucurbita pepo, most pumpkins, acorn squash, summer squash, zucchini.
Squash
(botany) Any other similar-looking plant of other genera.
Squash
Lagenaria siceraria (syn. Cucurbita verrucosa), calabash, long-neck squash.
Squash
(culinary) The edible or decorative fruit of these plants, or this fruit prepared as a dish.
We ate squash and green beans.
Squash
Muskrat.
Squash
(transitive) To beat or press into pulp or a flat mass; to crush.
Squash
To compress or restrict (oneself) into a small space; to squeeze.
Somehow, she squashed all her books into her backpack, which was now too heavy to carry.
We all managed to squash into Mum's tiny car.
Squash
(transitive) To suppress; to force into submission.
Squash
An American animal allied to the weasel.
Squash
A plant and its fruit of the genus Cucurbita, or gourd kind.
Squash
Something soft and easily crushed; especially, an unripe pod of pease.
Not yet old enough for a man, nor young enough for a boy; as a squash is before 't is a peascod.
Squash
Hence, something unripe or soft; - used in contempt.
Squash
A sudden fall of a heavy, soft body; also, a shock of soft bodies.
My fall was stopped by a terrible squash.
Squash
A game much like rackets, played in a walled court with soft rubber balls and bats like tennis rackets; - called also squash rackets.
Squash
To beat or press into pulp or a flat mass; to crush.
Squash
Any of numerous annual tendril-bearing trailing plants of the genus Cucurbita grown for their fleshy edible fruits
Squash
Edible fruit of a squash plant; eaten as a vegetable
Squash
A game played in an enclosed court by two or four players who strike the ball with long-handled rackets
Squash
To compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition;
Crush an aluminum can
Squeeze a lemon
Common Curiosities
Are there sugar-free versions of squash and syrup?
Yes, both squash and syrup are available in sugar-free varieties, using artificial sweeteners instead of sugar.
Can syrup be diluted like squash to make a beverage?
Some syrups, especially those designed for drinks, can be diluted to flavor beverages, but they are generally used in smaller quantities due to their richness.
What are the main differences in usage between squash and syrup?
Squash is specifically for making flavored drinks by dilution, while syrup is more versatile, used in cooking, baking, and as a topping.
Can I make squash or syrup at home?
Yes, homemade versions of both can be made using fruit juices and sugar or by reducing natural sweeteners like maple sap.
Are squash and syrup vegan?
Generally, yes, but it's important to check the ingredients for any animal-derived additives.
Is syrup healthier than squash?
Both are high in sugar; healthiness depends on the amount and context of use rather than the product type.
Can squash be used as a syrup?
While not its primary purpose, diluted squash can sometimes be used as a fruity syrup alternative in drinks.
Is flavored syrup the same as fruit squash?
While both add flavor, flavored syrup is denser and sweeter, designed for use in small quantities, unlike squash, which is diluted.
Which is more popular globally, squash or syrup?
Syrup is more universally recognized due to its broader range of uses, though squash is very popular in certain regions as a beverage concentrate.
How long do squash and syrup last after opening?
Both can last for several months if stored properly in a refrigerator, though syrups can sometimes have a longer shelf life due to their higher sugar content.
What is the ideal dilution ratio for squash?
The typical dilution ratio is one part squash to four or five parts water, but personal preference varies.
Can I use syrup in place of squash in recipes?
Depending on the recipe, syrup may be used as a sweetener or flavor enhancer, but it cannot replace squash in recipes requiring dilution to create a beverage.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
