No, you should not throw away hard brown sugar; it's perfectly safe and can be easily softened by reintroducing moisture using items like apple slices, a marshmallow, a damp paper towel, or a terra cotta sugar saver in an airtight container. Hardening happens when moisture evaporates, not because the sugar spoils, so simply adding moisture back makes it soft and usable again, even for baking.
Can I Still Use Brown Sugar That Has Hardened? Yes! hard brown sugar isn't a sign of spoilage, it's just a sign that the liquid from the molasses in the brown sugar has evaporated. You can still use it! Just soften before using for best results.
Even when we think we properly stored it in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag, brown sugar often clumps, cakes, or harden. That does not mean it is unsuitable for eating.
Does Brown Sugar Go Bad? Like white sugar, brown sugar lasts forever. However, brown sugar contains a lot of moisture. As it dries out, the texture can change, it can clump, or it can turn into a rock-hard lump. Because of this, most sources will only put the shelf life of brown sugar at around 2 years.
Quick softening method: If you need to use hard brown sugar immediately, remove it from the package into an oven-safe container and heat it at 250-degrees. Watch it carefully. As soon as it's soft, measure the amount you need right away because it will again harden as it cools. Please use caution.
Even though the shelf life of brown sugar is indefinite, it's best to use it within two years of purchase for maximum flavor. Don't store brown sugar in the refrigerator. However, if you are in a very dry area or will keep it for a long time, you may want to freeze it.
Just because brown sugar is safe to eat months, even years, after it is opened doesn't mean that time won't lower the sugar's quality. "The flavor of brown sugar is dependent on the molasses added to the product.
Brown sugar dries out when exposed to air for too long. The moisture provided by its molasses content evaporates—the result of plastic bags that aren't fully sealed and cardboard boxes left cracked open at the corners—transforming the malleable mix into a sweet, unusable brick.
What Are the Signs of Spoiled Sugar? Sugar can last for a long time, but smells, water, and bugs can ruin it. It's more likely to be contaminated than old, so be careful before you eat it.
Commercial sugars (granular, syrup, and honey) have an indefinite shelf life due to their resistance to microbial growth. However, sugars have a best-if-used by date of approximately 2 years for quality concerns.
Common sweet products that attract pests:
Granulated sugar, brown sugar, and powdered sugar containers.
Hard brown sugar needs more than to simply be broken up — it needs to have moisture added back into it,” says Gaine. There are a few easy ways to restore moisture to brown sugar. You can use a microwave, an oven, or a piece of terracotta, along with water, to transfer or restore moisture to hardened brown sugar.
Is Hard Brown Sugar Bad? The good news with hard brown sugar is that it can easily be re-hydrated. Molasses can absorb moisture from either bread or a clay plate or water (see above) and then you can proceed to use it in whatever recipe or way you like.
Does Brown Sugar Go Bad? Like white sugar, brown sugar lasts forever. However, brown sugar contains a lot of moisture. As it dries out, the texture can change, it can clump, or it can turn into a rock-hard lump.
Brown sugar should be stored in a cool, moist area in a rustproof container with a tight-fitting lid. Brown sugar can also be stored in any type of re-sealable, moisture-proof plastic bag. The quality of brown sugar is best when consumed within six months of purchase and opening.
If you've taken a long summer vacation from baking, you might be wondering if your sugar has gone bad while you've been off. The good news: Sugar doesn't really expire. (Unlike some other baking ingredients, like flours!)
Sugar, properly stored, has an indefinite shelf life because it does not support microbial growth.
It has an indefinite shelf life that doesn't technically expire but will degrade in quality over time. If sugar sits in your cupboard too long, it is likely to crystalize and harden. The color and flavor can change too, so it is recommended to use sugar within two years.
When exposed to the elements of your kitchen, the molasses will evaporate, turning your brown sugar to a brick. "Brown sugar hardens when it loses its moisture content. This can happen if it is not stored properly in an airtight container," Lahud says.
Technically, sugar never spoils. While it's recommended that granulated sugar be discarded after two years, chances are it will still serve its baking purpose even beyond that. The same guidelines apply to brown sugar and confectioner's or powdered sugar. When do sugar, flour, baking soda and other ingredients expire?