So, I went to use some brown sugar today that had been in my cupboard for over a year and wouldn't you know, it was hard as a rock. It was just a small box, but I had two of them and yes, they were both like concrete. I knew I had heard of ways to soften the brown sugar before, but couldn't remember, so I turned to the trusty (this time anyway) internet and found these great tips. I thought I'd share just in case any of you may run into this trouble as you pull that sugar out to do some holiday baking.
It happens to the best of us: rock hard brown sugar. How to soften it? Ten easy tips below:
Place the brown sugar in an airtight container with a slice of fresh bread placed on top. Seal and leave overnight. It should be soft and fresh again in the morning, if not just let it sit another day or two.
Sprinkle a few drops of water over the chunk of hardened sugar, place in a plastic bag, seal, and let sit for a couple days.
Place brown sugar in an open container, then top with a moistened cloth (paper towel works too). Let sit overnight.
Place the hardened sugar in an airtight container with a few apple slices. This should soften the sugar within the next day or two. Remove apple slices once sugar is soft again.
Use foil or plastic wrap to cover the top of the sugar. Then set a dampened sheet of paper towel (not dripping wet) on top of the foil. Place in an airtight container and seal. Let sit overnight or a few days as needed. Remove foil and paper towel once the towel is dry and sugar is fresh again.
Buy a clay disc or if you have a pottery piece on hand (from a broken clay pot, etc.), set it in water for about 30 minutes. Dry the piece so it isn’t dripping wet. Put the clay piece in a container with the sugar and seal. Check after a few days. Keep the piece in with your sugar for months if you’d like–will keep it soft.
Quick Tip #1: Need the sugar soft now? Put the brown sugar in a container and place in the microwave with a small bowl full of water beside it. Microwave for about 1 minute–check. If it’s still hard, try for another 30 seconds. You can keep doing this until the sugar is soft, but watch that you don’t melt the sugar.
Quick Tip #2: Place the hardened sugar in a baking pan and set in oven (temperature at about 250° F). Check after 5 minutes. If still not soft, continue checking every few minutes until it’s soft and ready to use.
Quick Tip #3: Place the brown sugar chunk in a microwave safe plastic bag. Take a square of paper towel and moisten with water (not dripping wet–wring out excess). Place the wet paper towel in the bag with the sugar and seal. Place in the microwave for approximately 20 seconds. If still not soft, microwave for a few seconds more, repeating until the sugar is ready to use. Be careful not to melt the sugar.
Quick Tip #4: Stick chunks of the brown sugar in a food processor or blender and chop/pulse until useable.
For best results, make sure to store brown sugar in a sealed, airtight container. A clay disc kept in the container can keep it soft for months (see tip above for clay disc).
Brown sugar can also be stored in the freezer and thawed a few hours before using.
3 comments:
You forgot to mention my favorite way of getting nice, soft brown sugar: send husband to store for a new bag. Ha ha! See, Sandra, I need you here to help me hone some domestic skills. I'm pathetic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ahhh. . .You give me far too much credit. Are you wondering why I would even have hard brown sugar? Yeah, you got it, not much cooking happening lately. I'm a shameful domestic goddess.
You are supposed to soften it??? Oh, I just wash my hands and spend about a half an hour breaking up the lumps in the egg and oil with my fingers. I like your methods better. Brooks is pretty good too but can't get husband away from the Wii. Happy New Year in IL.
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