Doesn't it drive you crazy when you go to use your brown sugar and find it hard as a rock? I use brown sugar in both my baking and even in savory dishes so I'm always opening the jar to get a teaspoon or more while in the kitchen. I just used brown sugar the other day when I baked my Pineapple Upside-Down Cake for Easter. So the last thing I wanted while happily baking was to deal with brown sugar that was like a concrete rock. I heard a while back that you can place a slice of bread with the sugar and it would keep the brown sugar from turning hard. It actually worked. The only problem I had with the bread was it also got stale and dried out then it would leave bread crumbs in the sugar. I certainly don't want little bread crumbs in my cake!
Then my mother sent me an email a while back about using store bought marshmallows to keep the brown sugar from getting hard. I had to give that a try. I knew an airtight container was necessary to also help in the process of keeping the brown sugar fresh and softened. So, I layered a few large marshmallows in the bottom of a glass jar and then placed a whole bag of brown sugar. I finished off with a few more marshmallows on top and sealed the lid. I waited a couple of weeks to see if it would stay soft and ....... YES it did!
What I like about the marshmallow method is that they don't crumble like the bread and they are also sugar so it's not as bad even if they did.
Now if you run into some hard brown sugar and your need it fast, you can soften it by placing it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds at a time. In between microwaving you will have to try to break it apart until it's all loose and softened. Now I can't guarantee that's not frustrating to do because I tried it a few times and sometimes it works and sometimes that brick of brown sugar is just not going to budge. I say it's better to prevent the sugar from turning into that concrete brick first. Happy Baking!
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| Place a few marshmallows at the bottom of the jar |
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| Place brown sugar and then a few more marshmallows |
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I've used a slice of bread in my brown sugar container for years and have never had it leave crumbs in it. I use the end slice of a loaf of bread (the crust) When it dries out, I just replace it. I've also used the marshmallow thing as well and it seems to work, but I just don't like having to remove a bunch of marshmallows before getting to the sugar. Lazy! Hahaha!
ReplyDeleteMy mother taught me to put a slice of fresh bread in the jar but I think marshmallows make a much nicer job of it.
ReplyDeleteGo figure! Very clever! Funny re the bread experience. :)
ReplyDeleteI hate it when that happens. I always microwave a bit to soften it up. This is genius!!
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ReplyDeleteI think I'll try that but isn't it annoying when marsh mellows are in the way as you top it off with a few more
ReplyDeleteI seem to keep it in the plastic it was manufactured in, since my experience hard as a rock when I put it in a glass jar but not an air tight glass lid
ReplyDeleteI'll try the one I have like yours but have to get marsh mellows , I may keep in the store bought plastic place into the jar until then
ReplyDeleteBut plastic is the danger
I just learned that plastic is a health hazard
ReplyDeleteNow I am switching all my storage into glass jars, containers for all foods
And learning it has to be a good grade glass container ,