Got a lump of hard brown sugar in the pantry? Don't be tempted to toss it.—It'll still be usable after following one of these suggested methods.—Just choose the one that best fits your available pantry items.

Method 1
Method 1 of 6:

Bread slice

  1. 1
    Place the lump of sugar into a plastic bag that can be sealed.
  2. 2
    Add a slice of soft bread and seal the bag well.
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  3. 3
    Leave for several hours. When you check in a few hours, the sugar should be soft again.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 6:

Microwave

  1. 1
    Place the sugar into a microwave-proof bowl and zap it for a few seconds. The sugar will soften quickly.[1]
Method 3
Method 3 of 6:

Damp cloth

  1. 1
    Leave the sugar in a bowl and cover it with a thick, dampened cloth such as a tea towel. Use this method if you have more time.
  2. 2
    Leave this overnight. By morning, the sugar should be soft again.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 6:

Slice of apple

  1. 1
    Place the hard brown sugar in a plastic bag that can be sealed, or into the brown sugar container.
  2. 2
    Add a slice of apple and seal the bag. This method is similar to the soft bread method.[2]
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Method 5
Method 5 of 6:

Kitchen foil

  1. 1
    Chip off a piece of dried sugar. Wrap it in kitchen foil.
  2. 2
    Bake in the oven at 150ºC/300ºF for five minutes.[3]
  3. 3
    Remove and allow to cool. The sugar should be soft again.
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Method 6
Method 6 of 6:

Marshmallows

  1. 1
    Place one to two large marshmallows in with the brown sugar. Either a bag or a sugar container will work, provided it's airtight.
  2. 2
    Leave it be. The marshmallows will soften the sugar for you. Leave them in there, and the sugar will stay soft.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Why is the bread needed in method one?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    To provide moisture for the hardened (dried out) sugar. It is the same thing with the apple or damp towel, just another method to reintroduce moisture.
  • Question
    Is brown sugar good for diabetic people?
    Amy273
    Amy273
    Community Answer
    No.
  • Question
    What is a terracotta sugar buddy?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Terracotta sugar buddies, often called sugar savers, are small, unglazed terracotta pieces. They're designed to be soaked in water and stored in brown sugar. Over time, they'll release water into the brown sugar and keep it soft.
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Things You'll Need

  • Slice of soft bread and sealable plastic bag; or
  • Microwave and bowl; or
  • Bowl and tea towel of similar heavy cloth; or
  • A slice of apple and sealable plastic bag

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 18 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 369,690 times.
25 votes - 87%
Co-authors: 18
Updated: December 22, 2021
Views: 369,690
Categories: Baking | Food Preparation
Article SummaryX

If you need to soften hard brown sugar, place it into a resealable plastic bag with a slice of soft bread or an apple slice. Seal the bag well. Leave the bag closed for several hours, then open the bag and remove the bread or apple. The sugar should be soft. If you need a quicker solution, place the sugar in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave it for about 10 seconds.

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