Any of us who bake eventually face the problem of keeping the brown sugar soft. It gets rock hard because the molasses in the sugar has dried out and needs to be rehydrated. So here are a few ways to keep it soft and easy to use when you need it.
- Small Terra Cotta Brown Sugar Disks/Shapes – You can get these small terra cotta pieces (disks or shapes) that you soak in water and then leave in your brown sugar. Store brown sugar in an air tight container with the disc. Depending on how frequently I use my sugar, I have to rehydrate the piece of terra cotta every 3 months or so. Mine is a little bear! These are usually priced at about $3/ea. I bet you could use your 20% off coupon at Bed, Bath and Beyond to get a great price on one!
- Bread Piece – This is the frugal way, by putting a piece of bread in with the brown sugar. This draws the moisture out of the bread and rehydrates the sugar. If it is hard, it takes about a day to soften back up.
Don’t you hate it when your brown sugar is hard as a rock? It makes it impossible to use and most people just throw it out. Don’t! Just stick it in the microwave for a few seconds until soft again.
Thanks, Beauty and Bedlam!
Instead of bread, you can also use marshmallows!! I’d say just one or two of the big ones, depending on how big your brown sugar container is!
.-= Ashlee´s last blog ..Mac & Cheese, Round Two =-.
I put my brown sugar in a plastic airtight container along with a paper towel. Works great and is super cheap!
I love this tip! I saw it on Food Network once and always wondered where to buy a terra cotta disc like this! I like the bear 🙂
My MIL just told me if you place the brown sugar, in a zipper bag (try to get as much air as you can out) and store it in your refrigerator, it will stay soft. I’m going to try it… SUPER frugal… hope it works!
I love all the tips thank you they really help
a piece of bread has worked for me for years….I really don’t know how long this piece has been in there but it looks the same as the day i put it with the sugar, and the sugar has stayed soft. Hope it’s sanitary?!?!?!?