If you already have some dried brown sugar, you can actually mix it with kosher salt and then store it in a container. Make sure that the container is airtight. This will prevent any moisture from getting in and ruining the dry sugar. You can then use it whenever you need to rub the meat.
How do you keep brown sugar from drying out?
To keep brown sugar from drying out, turn to a loaf of bread. Throwing in a slice of white bread in your brown sugar container allows the sugar to draw moisture from it. The bread hardens while the brown sugar softens, keeping or returning it to a soft texture.
How to soften brown sugar without a softener?
Place the sugar in a heat-proof container and heat it in 250 to 300° F oven (121 to 149° C) for a few minutes, until soft. You can also heat it briefly in a microwave. This will soften up your brown sugar but try not to overheat it. The first two methods are preferred.
Can I use brown sugar instead of white sugar in baking?
Don’t use brown and white sugar interchangeably without careful planning. While you may be able to get away with a switch in certain recipes, brown sugar’s color and acidity can produce unpredictable results in others since it can react with baking powder to enhance its leaving effects. Don’t use brown sugar for neutral sweetness.
Does Brown Sugar go bad?
Older brown sugar may start to harden and become more difficult to work with, but that does not mean it has “gone bad.” Brown sugar hardens when its natural moisture is exposed to, and evaporated by, the air. Without moisture, the molasses inside brown sugar causes it to stick to itself.
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Can I still use brown sugar that has hardened?
Unless you store it properly, what was a soft, fluffy package of brown sugar granules will have hardened into a dense brown lump you could break windows with. It's still safe to eat, but there's no way you can measure it accurately for a recipe until it's soft and grainy again.
What can you do with dried out brown sugar?
For the quickest results, place a lump of hardened sugar in a small microwave-safe bowl and cover it with a moist paper towel. Zap the sugar in the microwave on high in 20-second increments, breaking up any large clumps with a fork as you go.
Keeping Brown Sugar From Hardening
To prevent brown sugar from drying out and hardening, it has to be stored in an airtight container. A sealed plastic bag is best, but any airtight container is fine. As long as you can keep the moisture in, the brown sugar will not harden.
1. Wet Towel Method to Soften Brown Sugar
One good method for getting moisture back into hardened brown sugar is to drape a moistened towel or paper towel over the sugar container and leaving it there fro about 12 or so hours. The sugar will draw the moisture in from the towel and soften back up. Once the sugar is softened again, seal it up good and tight.
2. Slice of Bread Method
Place a nice fresh slice of bread in the sugar container and seal it in with the sugar. The moisture from the bread will be drawn into the sugar so the brown sugar will soften back up. For a large amount of sugar you might want to use more than one slice. Fresher bread has more moisture, so don’t use an old stale slice.
3. Heating in Oven Method
Unlike the other methods, this quick-fix method is only temporary. Place the sugar in a heat-proof container and heat it in 250 to 300° F oven (121 to 149° C) for a few minutes, until soft. You can also heat it briefly in a microwave. This will soften up your brown sugar but try not to overheat it. The first two methods are preferred.
Why Does Brown Sugar Get Hard?
Brown sugar contains molasses, which contributes moisture, wet sand-like texture and robust caramel flavor. When exposed to the elements of your kitchen, the molasses will evaporate, turning your brown sugar to a brick.
How to Store Brown Sugar to Keep It Soft
You can keep your brown sugar soft indefinitely by storing it in a resealable plastic bag (squeeze every last bit of air out) within an air-tight container. For extra insurance, add a slice of bread in the bottom of the bag. It will bring just enough moisture to hydrate the molasses. And don't worry, the bread won’t mold.
How to Soften Brown Sugar with Bread or Tea Bags
If you have 2 to 3 days: Transfer your brown sugar into an airtight container and try resuscitating it with something that can add moisture, like a slice of bread (we know this one works!) or a couple of damp tea bags. We also tried other recommended fixes like marshmallows — which had no effect — and apple slices, which turned slimy.
How to Soften Brown Sugar with Terra Cotta
If you have 1 hour: Transfer the brown sugar to an airtight container and add a piece of terra cotta that you've soaked in water for 30 minutes. The terra cotta will gently add moisture to every last bit of brown sugar, softening it evenly and thoroughly.
How to Soften Brown Sugar In the Microwave
If you only have 2 to 3 minutes: Often we are caught off guard by rock-hard brown sugar, so planning in advance isn’t an option. For the quickest results, place a lump of hardened sugar in a small microwave-safe bowl and cover it with a moist paper towel.
1. Air Dry
If you live in an area of low humidity and you have the time, spread the brown sugar out onto a sheet and then let it air dry. The air from heaters dries out the air and helps to dry out the sugar too.
2. Use an Oven
If you don’t want to wait for air drying to happen or you live in a humid environment, the other option is to use the oven on a low heat to dry out the brown sugar. Setting the oven to no more than between 120 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit should do the trick.
3. Use a Microwave
You can use a microwave on a low setting. This will be much quicker but it can also create a mess if you’re not careful with the heat.
4. Use Kosher Salt and Store
If you already have some dried brown sugar, you can actually mix it with kosher salt and then store it in a container. Make sure that the container is airtight.
Does Brown Sugar Go Bad?
Short answer: no. Like granulated sugar, cane sugar, and maple syrup, brown sugar has an indefinitely long shelf life if stored properly to protect against bug contamination.
3 Tips for Storing Brown Sugar and Maximizing Its Shelf Life
Although brown sugar can, on paper, last forever, keeping it soft is another story altogether. With a couple of tips and tricks, we can make sure our brown sugar remains accessible, tasty, and easy to use for years to come.
How to Soften Hard Brown Sugar
If, like most people, you already have a lump of brown sugar somewhere in your pantry – fear not. There are tons of different ways to soften hardened brown sugar.
For Your Next Bake, Try Brown Sugar
Once you employ some anti-hardening practices, brown sugar is just as easy to work with as any other baking ingredient. Its rich molasses flavor and naturally nutty color make for wonderful baked goods and work perfectly in breakfast classics like oatmeal cups.
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Learn how to keep brown sugar soft and how to soften brown sugar after it has hardened
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Why Does Brown Sugar Get Hard?
If you’re a baker, then you know brown sugar can form into rock-hard chunks that are difficult to break up. Unlike other sugars, brown sugar hardens when exposed to air. This is because molasses loses moisture, making the sugar crystals stick to themselves.
Airtight Container
First and foremost, the best way to keep brown sugar soft in the first place is to store it the right way. When you store the sugar in a sealable, airtight container, there’s no air to absorb the moisture that causes the sugar to harden. This OXO food storage container set is a favorite of our Test Kitchen.
Sliced Bread
To keep brown sugar from drying out, turn to a loaf of bread. Throwing in a slice of white bread in your brown sugar container allows the sugar to draw moisture from it. The bread hardens while the brown sugar softens, keeping or returning it to a soft texture. This method is one of our top Amish baking tips that you should know.
Marshmallows
How do marshmallows keep brown sugar soft, you might ask? The same way bread does! The brown sugar is able to extract moisture from the marshmallows. And a couple of marshmallows is a small sacrifice for soft, fluffy brown sugar. By the way, this is the difference between light and dark brown sugar.
Apple
If you don’t have any bread or marshmallows laying around, apples work, too. Throw in a few slices and after a day or two, the sugar will be good as new. Just be sure not to leave them in there too long. These secret baking tips will help take your baking from good to great.
Microwave
If you’re in a hurry to soften brown sugar—as in, you’re baking cookies NOW—you’re in luck. Simply place a wet paper towel in with the sugar and microwave for 20 seconds.
Why Does Brown Sugar Go Hard?
Brown sugar hardens as its natural moisture evaporates. Unless you store it properly, what was a soft, fluffy package of brown sugar granules will hardened into a dense brown lump you could break windows with. It's still safe to eat, but there's no way you can measure it accurately for a recipe until it's soft and grainy again.
How to Soften Hard Brown Sugar
One of these 5 easy methods should do the trick, depending on how fast you need the fix.
How to Store Brown Sugar
To keep brown sugar properly moist and ready to use, you need to store it in an air-tight container in a dry pantry. (The fridge is too moist for proper sugar storage.) You can use the terra cotta method (above) to maintain moisture.
