How maddening to reach for the brown sugar expecting it to be soft and fluffy, only to find a rock-hard clump in the bottom of the box. Or how about this: Brown sugar is on sale, so you stock up. Even without opening the bags or boxes left on the shelf, the contents, in time, turn stone-hard. Should you toss the bricks into the garbage? Better idea: Learn how to keep brown sugar soft and fluffy—and how to soften should it harden.

What is brown sugar?

Brown sugar is white sugar plus molasses. Molasses is what gives brown sugar its distinct color, flavor, and moisture. Despite containing trace amounts of various nutrients from molasses, brown sugar is not deemed healthier than other types of sugar.

Why does it get hard as a brick?

Unlike regular white granulated sugar, brown sugar hardens when exposed to air. The moisture in the molasses dries out, leaving a thick sticky residue. This causes the sugar crystals to stick to themselves, and eventually, the whole thing turns into a big hard-as-a-rock mess.

Easy Ways to Keep Brown Sugar Soft

1. Airtight Container

Typically brown sugar comes from the store in a box or a bag. Or “sealed” in a bag inside a box. All methods are an attempt to keep that brown sugar soft. Just don’t count on it. Once opened, expect rock-hard results to follow, and sooner than you might think. A lot has to do with humidity, light, and heat.

Always transfer brown sugar from its packaging to an airtight sealable container. While the type of jar pictured below is excellent for day-to-day use, a good choice for long-term storage is a glass canning jar used with a FoodSaver vacuum sealer and jar sealing accessory.

 

2. Marshmallows

Even in a supposed airtight container—unless all of the air has been vacuumed out and sealed—there is enough moisture loss for brown sugar to harden. The solution is introducing moisture to the container. An easy way to do this is with a couple of marshmallows randomly buried in the sugar.

Marshmallows don’t change the taste of the brown sugar but rather give the molasses a way to replenish any lost moisture. This might sound silly, but it works. Just plan for the marshmallows to dry up and harden (better them than an entire lot of sugar). Replace as necessary.

 

 

3. White bread

Place a small piece of bread in the container with the brown sugar. Like marshmallows, white bread contains a good amount of moisture. As that transfers to the molasses in the brown sugar, the bread will become hard, the brown sugar soft. Replace that piece of bread weekly, or as needed.

 

 

 

4. Apple slice

A slice or two of a ripe apple, when dropped into a container of brown sugar also keeps it soft. Again, the molasses in the sugar attracts the moisture in the apple, and that keeps everyone happy. For a while.

 

5. Terra cotta

A piece of unglazed food-grade terra cotta makes for an ideal brown-sugar saver. Simply soak that piece of pottery in water, then drop it into the brown sugar container. Apply the lid and walk away. Your brown sugar will be perfectly soft and fluffy the next time you reach for it.

A terra cotta disk is also excellent for softening hardened brown sugar. Just add the soaked disk, close the lid, and check back later.

Rather than smashing a flower pot to come up with the terra cotta, I suggest you purchase an inexpensive unglazed terra cotta brown sugar keeper (available in a variety of sizes and shapes) that is food-grade (safe) and just the right size.

 

6. Brown sugar keeper

If you intend to purchase an airtight container for brown sugar, I suggest you get one like this OXO that comes with the terra cotta disk. Now you have the best of both worlds: An excellent airtight container and a terracotta sugar keeper all in one. Give the terracotta a good soak in water every few weeks and replace it in the container.

Having purchased this brown sugar container with the terra cotta  (below) to give it a test and honest review, I found it so ideal that it has become my permanent brown-sugar storage method of choice. It works great.

 

 

 

Remedies Should It Harden

7. Food processor

An easy way to fix brown sugar that’s gone hardened is with your food processor. Use a hammer if you must, but find a way to break off and smash a big chunk of hardened brown sugar. Place in a food processor. Apply the lid. Give it short pulses until it breaks up into tiny granules. Return brown sugar to an airtight container. Add marshmallows, apple slices, white bread, or cute bear as above, and apply the lid. Check back in a few days. That’s what we’re talking about. Soft and fluffy brown sugar!

 

8. Microwave

If you’re in the middle of a recipe, only to discover the brown sugar you need right now has hardened, here’s a quick fix that will keep you going: Place that hardened brown sugar (the amount called for in the recipe if you can get it down to that amount) into a microwave safe bowl. Thoroughly wet a paper towel, wring it out so it is not dripping, and place it in the bowl on top of the brown sugar—microwave on high for 20 seconds.

 

Resources

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Published originally 10-6-22; Updated and Republished 3-11-23

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