Brown Sugar

[George K]

How do you keep it from turning into a brick?

And, once it's done so, is there a solution?

[Catseye3]

From Food Network: "For the quickest results, place a lump of hardened sugar in a small microwave-safe bowl and cover it with a moist paper towel. Zap the sugar in the microwave, on high in 20-second increments, breaking up any large clumps with a fork as you go."

[Renauda]

We use one of these:

http://brownsugarsoftener.com/

You can pick them at any store that sells kitchen wares and such. Just soak the bear in water overnight then put it in the container with the sugar. Works well.

[Catseye3]

As for the why, this from Spoon University: "Brown sugar hardens together once it has been exposed to air because it is coated in molasses. Molasses is a thick, brown syrup that is obtained while refining sugar, and, according to The Kitchn, "when the sugar is fresh, (the molasses) makes the sugar crystals slip easily over each other and the brown sugar as a while is soft and malleable."

However, once exposed to air, the moisture that coats the molasses evaporates and allows the sugar granules to stick together. When the molasses dries out, the brown sugar hardens and turns into a solid piece of sugar."

[Jolly]

Put a slice of bread in the bag of sugar and tie it up. Sugar should be soft the next morning.

[LuFins Dad]

@jolly said in Brown Sugar:

Put a slice of bread in the bag of sugar and tie it up. Sugar should be soft the next morning.

Yep. Works with homemade cookies, too.

[bachophile]

Brown sugar
How come you taste so good, now?
Brown sugar
Just like a young girl should

Ah, get along, brown sugar
How come you taste so good
Ah, got me feelin' now, brown sugar
Just like a black girl should

Not sure that song would go over well these days

[Larry]

Link to video