How do you make hard brown sugar soft?

Hi Everyone,

  I was wondering how to make hard brown sugar soft.  My dad actually asked me.  I told him maybe put a piece of bread in the container.  But I wasn't sure. 

Thank you.

Janet

Yup, a piece of bread will work. Or those little clay discs work wonders too.

I also use bread and it works every time!

Thank you both.  I told him about those discs too, of course he didn't know what I was talking about.

 

Janet

Cut a half of an apple ,unpeeled,  and set it inside the sealed container...It softens it up great....I keep the apple right in there all the time (cut)

Those clay things work also....just have to soak them in water every few months to get the moisture into the clay...

Worth every penny..

My problem is white granulated sugar...How to soften that???

Hi!! I can think of two ways; one is to put a slice of unpeeled apple in the box, re-wrap and let sit for a day.  The quick method is to put the box into the microwave for 14-30 seconds, but this will necessitate doing it every time you need to use the same box.  Don't heat it too much, just enough to de-crystallize the molasses.

I have always used a half an apple don't worry about peeling the apple just place it in a closed container with your har brown sugar and wow it will be soft with in the next day.. I eat the other part of the apple. Nothing goes to waste. Good luck

Liz

I usually just put in the heel (crust) of my bread which I don't eat anyway and replace it when it gets dry....or apple peel works great

 To prevent the sugar from getting hard, after purchase, I immediately put the sugar in a large freezer type zip locking bag.  Then I put that in a canister.

 well I am glad I found the answer I was looking for. I wasn't sure what I would find under the thread 'hints & tips', but considering I'm new in the kitchen I had no doubt I'd learn something I didn't know.

Thanks ladies (gentlemen?) ... Linda ... air cleaner 

I just recently ran into that problem again and ny disks were not soaked and I needed to use it right away.  I read on the box that if I put about 1/2 # of brown sugar into a microwave safe bowl with a damp paper towel on top and cover the bowl with saran/etc wrap and heated it for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes on high it would soften.  Well, bless Pete if it didn't work.  Now, you need to use whatever measurement you need immediately since it will reharden...but it was a wonderful help for me since I was using it immediately.  Hope this helps.

If you happen to have a gas stove with a pilot light in the oven just put it in the oven for about and hour and it will be perfectly soft.

Add a small amount of apple juice (starting with 1/4 cup for 1 pound), crumble the sugar by putting it into a plastic bag and use a meat softener or a hammer. Then I store brown sugar in a vacuum sealed container where it stays soft.

  Have used a piece of fresh bread for 50 years and it works all the time. Simply leave with sugar and replace when it gets dry. I'd be afraid the apple idea would leave a bit of apple flavor!

Carolyn

 

Can you get the little brown sugar bears that are put in the brown sugar bag,works great,never have hard sugar again.

I think I read somewhere that you can also use a piece of terra cotta pot in it and works,I never tried that as I use the bear.