How do I soften brown sugar that has gone hard
Seal the hardened brown sugar in an airtight container with one fresh slice of bread and leave it overnight, usually 8 to 24 hours. The sugar absorbs moisture from the bread and softens enough to spoon. Remove the bread once it is dry and stiff, and keep the sugar sealed so it stays soft.
How to do it
- Put the hard sugar in an airtight containerUse a glass jar or plastic tub with a tight-fitting lid. If the block does not fit, break off the loose chunks first.
- Add one fresh slice of breadLay it on top of or against the sugar. Soft, fresh sandwich bread gives up its moisture easily. Stale bread has little left to give.
- Seal the lid and leave it overnightKeep the container at room temperature for 8 to 24 hours. The sugar slowly pulls moisture from the bread as it sits.
- Remove the bread once it is dry and stiffThe slice has done its job when it feels hard and curled at the edges. Throw it away so it does not go moldy in the container.
- Break up lumps and keep the sugar sealedLoosen any remaining clumps with a fork, then keep the lid tightly closed so the sugar does not dry out again.
Questions that come up
Will the brown sugar taste like bread afterward?
Usually not. What passes between them is mostly moisture, and plain sandwich bread has a mild smell. Avoid strongly flavored loaves such as rye, garlic or cinnamon bread, and take the slice out as soon as it has dried so it does not sit with the sugar longer than needed.
What if I need soft brown sugar right now?
Bread is the slow method. For immediate use, put the sugar in a microwave-safe bowl, cover it with a damp paper towel and heat it in 20-second bursts, breaking it up between each one. It softens quickly but hardens again as it cools, so use it straight away.
The sugar is still hard in the morning. What should I do?
A large or very dry block can need more time. Break it into smaller pieces if you can, add a new fresh slice if the first one has dried out, reseal the container and give it another day. Check the lid too: if air gets in, the moisture escapes instead of reaching the sugar.
Can I use something other than bread?
Yes. Anything that releases moisture slowly works the same way. A few apple slices or a terracotta brown sugar saver soaked in water are common alternatives. Apple can leave a faint fruity note, and like bread, it should come out once the sugar has softened.
Full transcript
Brown sugar gone hard? Seal it with bread. Put the hard block in an airtight container with one fresh slice. Lid on, leave it overnight. The sugar pulls moisture from the bread. By morning the bread is dry. Pull it out. The spoon sinks right in.