Daily Kitchen Note
Hardened brown sugar can be frustrating to measure and use in recipes. Adding a slice of bread to the container introduces moisture that the sugar absorbs, restoring its soft, scoopable texture.
How to Soften brown sugar
- Place the hardened brown sugar in an airtight container.
- Add a slice of soft bread directly on top of the sugar.
- Seal the container tightly and let it sit for a day or two until the sugar absorbs the moisture and softens.
Why it works
Brown sugar hardens when its natural moisture evaporates, causing the sugar crystals to bind together. Because sugar is hygroscopic, it readily absorbs moisture from its environment. When sealed with a moisture-rich slice of bread, the sugar pulls water from the bread, breaking the bonds between crystals and softening the sugar.
Source
K-State Research and Extension: Pantry Ponderings: Brown Sugar
