Brown sugar, whether light or dark, is an essential ingredient for baking and cooking.
There are many ways to get brown sugar back to a usable state and keep it that way.
Just choose the method that makes sense to you!
Photo: Getty Images
What Is Brown Sugar?
Brown sugar is simply granulated sugar that has had molasses introduced.
Light brown sugar has less molasses than dark brown sugar.
How Can You Store Brown Sugar So It Doesn’t Harden?
Store it in a cool, dry spot in your pantry.
If you have a terra cotta sugar saver, you might put it in there to help maintain moisture.
Re-soak the tile according to the directions that came with it.
Why Does Brown Sugar Harden?
Essentially, brown sugar hardens when moisture evaporates due to aging or improper storage.
How Can You Soften Brown Sugar Fast?
There are a couple of methods that work best if you need your sugar softened quickly.
Microwaving is the fastest, but it’s also the most prone to complications like melting or burning.
Doing it without a microwave takes a little longer, but you have better control over your final product.
Place the hardened brown sugar in a microwave-safe container.
Soak a paper towel in water and wring it out, then lay it over the sugar.
Microwave in 10-second increments, stirring with a fork between bursts until it is fully softened.
Be careful not to melt or burn the sugar.
How to Soften Brown Sugar Without a Microwave
Preheat the oven to 250F.
Place the hardened brown sugar in a baking dish or heatproof bowl.
Bake, stirring with a fork every two to three minutes, until softened to your desired texture.
How to Soften Brown Sugar with an Apple
Cut an apple in half.
Seal the container and let it sit until the sugar has softened, 24 to 48 hours.
Remove and discard the apple.
Hardened sugar isn’t bad.
It’s just in need of moisture.
However, brown sugar will perform best if usedwithin two yearsof purchase.
What Are Some Alternatives to Brown Sugar?
you’re free to make your own brown sugar by adding some liquid molasses to regular white sugar.
But these may not perform identically in baking, so be careful where you swap them.
When stored properly, brown sugar can last years in your pantry.
