I see people from time to time refer to brown sugar going hard as a rock.
It amazes me that many people don't know this trick.
I've taken hard as a rock brown sugar and softened it overnight or a day by using
a Brown Sugar Clay Pottery Softener. Once I open a bag, I always leave the pottery clay in the brown sugar.
You can also use a piece of apple , however, I don't like the taste it imparts on the brown sugar.
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I remember my mother sticking a slice of bread in the brown sugar to soften it up again. Try it and post here the results!
Yes I remember that bread trick also.
I've always done the slice of bread in the bag and it works. Learned that trick from my mother.
I use the bread trick as well and it keeps the sugar soft for a really long time. If you need to use it in a hurry and can't wait for the bread to do the work, you can also put it in the microwave for a few minutes and it will soften beautifully. (not in the plastic bag of course).
"It's better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret"
I've used the apple trick but never noticed any taste difference, could depend on the variety of apple used.
I've also warmed it in the microwave.
I just don't worry about it anymore because I just make brown sugar as I need it now and don't actually store it in my pantry/preps.
I just mix regular white sugar with a few teaspoons or tablespoons of molasses depending on how big of a measure I need.
I'm the lady you're stuck behind in the grocery store with the over loaded cart filled with cases of tuna, peanut butter, huge bags of rice and the weary looking husband