# How do I un-solidify my brown sugar? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-un-solidify-my-brown-sugar/505848 "2009-08-09T17:35:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-un-solidify-my-brown-sugar/505848/1 "2009-08-09T17:35:11Z")
I have a box of brown cane sugar. I pretty much only use it occasionally, in oatmeal. It has transformed into a solid mass of sugar. A _really_ solid mass. Like, ‘use a steak knife to stab into chunks so I can use some’ solid mass. Obviously, this is not ideal. Is there any secret trick which will allow me to at least soften it a bit? ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-un-solidify-my-brown-sugar/505848/2 "2009-08-09T17:40:04Z")
You can try putting it into a sealed plastic container (Like Tupperware) with a moist paper towel. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-un-solidify-my-brown-sugar/505848/3 "2009-08-09T17:43:42Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > You can try putting it into a sealed plastic container (Like Tupperware) with a moist paper towel. I thought sugar solidified when they _absorbed_ moisture, not lost it? I seem to recall hearing that a microwave was a good way to soften sugar. (Make sure the box doesn’t have metal parts.) ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-un-solidify-my-brown-sugar/505848/4 "2009-08-09T17:56:24Z")
Put a piece of bread in with it. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-un-solidify-my-brown-sugar/505848/5 "2009-08-09T18:00:52Z")
Put it in the microwave for 15 seconds at a time until it is soft enough to break apart. Then store with something moist, as above. ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-un-solidify-my-brown-sugar/505848/6 "2009-08-09T19:06:00Z")
In addition to the remedies above, you can also buy brown sugar softeners – they work better than bread, apple pieces, etc. because they won’t go bad. [Brown Sugar Pillow](http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/brown-sugar-pillow) [Brown Sugar Bear](http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/brown-sugar/cookie-softener-sugar-bear) In addition, you can prevent this from happening in the future by transferring it from the box to a plastic ziploc. Press out all the possible air and seal well. If you have one of those hand-vac devices, so much the better. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-un-solidify-my-brown-sugar/505848/7 "2009-08-09T19:15:15Z")
I’ve tried sealing brown sugar in ziploc plastic bag many times and it has still turned into a rock. One of these days I’ll have to try one of the damp methods (apple, wet paper towel, etc.). Up to now if I had a recipe that I needed to stir the brown sugar into I just bought fresh (and threw out the old rocks if I had too many). If it was a recipe where the brown sugar needed to dissolve (e.g. butterscotch), then I just beat the s—t out of it with a hammer until I got it broken down enough to put into a measuring cup. Good way to work out your frustrations! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![vifslan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f4b2a3/32.png) [@vifslan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vifslan)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-un-solidify-my-brown-sugar/505848/8 "2009-08-09T19:26:30Z")
I’ve found the fridge to be a good place for soft brown sugar, since the humidity is much higher than in your average kitchen cupboard. A tablespoon of water sprinkled on top of the sugar, taping the bag shut, and into the fridge overnight usually works for me. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-un-solidify-my-brown-sugar/505848/9 "2009-08-09T19:28:55Z")
Wet paper towel draped over top works for me. I learned from experience that you should always transfer brown sugar immediately to a different container upon taking it home. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-un-solidify-my-brown-sugar/505848/10 "2009-08-09T20:04:19Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > I thought sugar solidified when they _absorbed_ moisture, not lost it? I seem to recall hearing that a microwave was a good way to soften sugar. (Make sure the box doesn’t have metal parts.) Yeah, what causes this exactly?