How to Soften Brown Sugar
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Have you ever decided to bake cookies only to reach for the brown sugar to find it hard as a rock? Now your cookie dreams were just shattered, and you also have to go to the store, double bummer. Not so fast, don’t throw out that brown sugar! I’m going to save you money and save you a trip to the store. Brown sugar that is hard is not bad!
If you're looking for more kitchen knowledge, check out some of my other posts like How to Make Light Brown Sugar, How to Make Cake Flour, or Can Bananas Ever Be Too Ripe for Baking?
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Does brown sugar go bad?
No, for the most part brown sugar does not go bad. Sugar can last indefinitely. But it is best when used within 6 months to a year of purchasing. But, if you live in a dry climate or you just forget to close the bag or jar, brown sugar can get hard quick. But luckily you can still use it!
How to Soften Brown Sugar
There are a few ways to soften brown sugar. You can soften brown sugar in the oven or microwave. And you can soften brown sugar over the course of a couple days using bread or an apple. You can use whatever method works for you!
How to Soften Brown Sugar In the Oven
You can easily soften brown sugar in the oven. Preheat the oven to 250°F and place brown sugar on a baking sheet. Set the timer for 5 minutes, and poke it with a fork to see if it crumbles, if so remove it and it’s ready to use in recipes. If it’s still hard, add another 5 minutes and check it again.
How to Soften Brown Sugar in the Microwave
If you just have a small amount of brown sugar, you can soften it in the microwave. Place it in a microwave safe bowl and cover it with a warm and damp paper towel. For 226 grams (1 cup) of brown sugar microwave for 2 minutes, remove the paper towel, poke with a fork to break up clumps, and then re-wet the paper towel with warm water and microwave again for 2 more minutes.
How to Soften Brown Sugar with Bread
Just like Mrs. Fields would say to soften cookies, you can use that same trick to soften brown sugar. This trick isn’t instant, so if you need brown sugar now this won’t work on the fly.
But if you’re planning ahead then this one works good. Place a piece of bread in your brown sugar tub, and let it sit for a few days, remove the bread and your brown sugar should be ready to use.
How to Soften Brown Sugar with Apple
If you’re gluten free and you can’t use bread, then an apple slice works just the same as bread. Add a few slices of apple to your brown sugar tub, and let it sit for a day or two. Remove the apple and the brown sugar should be soft and ready to use.
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