How to Store Brown Sugar So It Doesn’t Harden?
brown sugar hardening is a common issue faced by bakers and sweet-tooths alike. The grainy texture and rock-solid consistency of hard brown sugar can make it difficult to use in recipes, whether you’re whipping up a batch of chocolate chip cookies or preparing a comforting bowl of oatmeal.
But the good news is that brown sugar can be preserved in its soft and edible state with the right storage techniques. In this article, we’ll share the most effective methods to store brown sugar and keep it soft, crunchy, and ready to use in all your favorite recipes.
**Why Brown Sugar Hardens**
Before diving into the solutions, let’s first understand why brown sugar tends to harden in the first place.
- Loss of moisture: Brown sugar contains between 2% to 5% of moisture. When the air humidity dips below 30%, or when the sugar is left exposed to the air, the moisture content decreases, causing the sugar to granulate and harden.
- Mold or insect infestation: Flies, beetles, and other pests can thrive in sugary environments and contribute to sugar hardening. Meanwhile, mold or mildew growth can absorb moisture, making the sugar even more brittle.
- Old age: Commercial brown sugar packages are made to be more durable for transportation and shelf life purposes. As time passes, the natural oxidation process reduces the sugar’s natural sugar content, making it dry and brittle.
**Best Practices to Store Brown Sugar**
To minimize the likelihood of brown sugar hardening, follow these best practices:
Tightly seal the container:
In a dedicated sugar container: Transfer brown sugar to a clean, airtight container (stainless steel or glass work best) or a specialized sugar jar, ensuring a secure lid with no gaps. You can also wrap plastic wrap tightly around the opening of a clean glass or plastic container as an alternative.- **Store it in an airtight environment:
Kept in the pantry at room temperature, ideally on a mid-tier shelf where there is:
- Reduced air flow
- Limited UV light exposure
- Stable temperature
- If you must store sugar elsewhere, place the container in an opaque, heavy-duty bag or aluminum foil for additional protection.