Brown sugar is a fitting replacement for white sugar. It has been conveniently used in place of white sugar for many recipes and dessert items without guilt.
People also enjoy the long-time benefit of brown sugar because it has a longer shelf life in comparison with other edible food items. But how long does brown sugar last?
It is important to note that brown sugar lasts indefinitely. It is believed to maintain its quality for 2 years, provided you have preserved it properly by keeping it away from moisture or insects.
The post-expiry period is very crucial. It may have lost its flavor to some extent. This sugar is not advisable to be consumed after the specified timeline as it may not serve the purpose.
Let us dig through the article to know more about the details of the durability of brown sugar and how you store it to extend its shelf life.
What you do when it has hardened up and how you actually soften the brown sugar is also explained for your awareness. Let us jump right into the facts.
How Long Does Brown Sugar Last?
Brown sugar, as mentioned before, can last indefinitely without any spoilage. However, the quality is supremely maintained for up to two years. After two years, it might lose its taste or even flavor but would not necessarily be discarded as expired or unwanted.
It can be used in multiple dishes without any tangible taste difference. However, while preserving it for two years, make sure you keep it away from moisture and insects. This will ensure that the product abides by the best-by date.
We have to note that the best-by date is printed on the package. As the name implies, this date is only defined as a best-by and not an expiry date.
So the product would not be subjected to expiry after 2 years but would have gone for a compromise in taste and flavor to a large extent.
Does Brown Sugar Go Bad?
Brown sugar, in general, does not go bad. However, proximity to insects and moisture can make brown sugar bad and completely non-consumable.
There would be a considerable change in the flavor, reflecting the decline of brown sugar quality. It is not a sign of expiry by any means.
Is Brown Sugar Good Enough If It Is Hard?
Brown sugar tends to harden up when all the moisture evaporates. It will form clumps or crystal balls that can be separated manually without major effort. The introduction of needed moisture into the package will help as well.
The hardened sugar can be loosened up by breaking those crystal particles using a fork or a spoon. This is possible only if the clumps are not super firm or unbreakable.
Moisture reintroduction could be a better fix, but it needs a longer time to process. You need a day or two to enable sugar to absorb water.
How To Soften The Hard Sugar?
Hardened sugar is not rendered useless as it can be softened again to be consumed. Hardened sugar becomes impossible to leverage in any dish as it cannot be easily mixed.
There are ways to soften brown sugar, and the below protocols will enlighten you on the methods.
Manually Loosening Brown Sugar
Doing it manually is the most natural process of breaking down clumped sugar. A few ways include,
- Breaking the clumps with a fork
- Putting the clumps into the bag and smashing it into the wall
- Use an electric mixer or blender to soften the brown sugar
You use brute force to break the clumps, and the brown sugar can be used instantaneously.
Restoring Moisture To Clumped Brown Sugar
Providing moisture to the molasses will help the brown sugar to loosen up. The ways to do this are the following.
- An apple wedge, a bread piece, an orange peel, or marshmallows in the container. You have to wait till the brown sugar absorbs moisture from those particles. It will take at least 2 hours for the absorption of moisture.
- Cover the sugar with a damp paper towel and heat it for 30 seconds using a microwave or oven. The sugar might get hardened up again when it cools down. So preserve it tightly wrapped until the moisture is retained.
Softening the brown sugar this way would be the best approach on a long-term basis. This will immediately fix the core issue to quickly render the brown sugar useful again.
How To Tell If Brown Sugar Is Bad?
The brown sugar has to be immediately discarded if there are any signs of bugs, insects, wet clumps, or molds. Dry lumps can be easily broken off, or the sugar can be smoothened by following the above process.
The dried brown sugar is bound to have insects or bugs when spoiled. If insects, bugs, larvae, or eggs are present in the bag, the sugar is not safe to consume or use.
If there is an off smell or smell of a neighboring product, the sugar might have turned bad. Sugar absorbs odor fast and starts radiating any smell of the items in proximity.
This is a good sign that sugar is no longer worth consuming or using. Although it may not have turned bad to the level of harming your body, the purpose of sugar can never be leveraged by any means.
How To Store Brown Sugar?
Brown sugar can be stored in a cool or dark place where the temperature is not subjected to high fluctuations. A cupboard in the pantry or a counter would be the perfect place. However, a kitchen cabinet would work as well.
You have to ensure it stays away from any heat sources such as microwaves or ovens. The fridge is unnecessary for the brown sugar as it might induce moisture into the package.
It can be left in the original packaging, or if you have opened it, you can transfer the contents into a sealed container. It can also be placed in a sealed plastic bag, and a seal clip would perfectly wrap it up tightly.
You have to make sure that you keep the sugar packet away from insects, bugs, and moisture. Make sure the surrounding is also neat enough, and the sugar does not absorb the smell of neighboring foods.
If you want to prevent the sugar from forming clumps, the best way is to use a sugar saver, a gadget that prevents the sugar from forming molds. To do this, you must soak the sugar in the container periodically.
Can You Freeze The Brown Sugar?
Brown sugar can be frozen, but it is not a mandated process. It keeps up its shelf life indefinitely, so the need for the brown sugar to be frozen is not very compelling.
Even if you freeze it, you must store it in a closed container with the proper sealing facility to avoid any bacterial attack.
If you will not use the sugar for 6 months, freezing it would be reasonable. Some amount of moisture can keep the sugar from hardening up immensely.
Conclusion
Brown sugar is a staple food that we all use in desserts or beverages. However, you are bound to know how long you can keep the brown sugar at home.
There is a high chance that brown sugar will lose its flavor or taste as days pass by, and we should not let that happen.
So storing it right and using it within the allowed timeline deems important. This article will be a clear guideline to show you how long brown sugar lasts and what you do to extend its shelf life.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does brown sugar last?
Brown sugar, as mentioned before, can last indefinitely without any spoilage. However, the quality is supremely maintained for up to two years. After two years, it might lose its taste or even flavor but would not necessarily be discarded as expired or unwanted.
Does brown sugar go bad?
Brown sugar, in general, does not go bad. However, proximity to insects and moisture can make brown sugar bad and completely non-consumable.
Is brown sugar good enough if it is hard?
Brown sugar tends to harden up when all the moisture evaporates. It will form clumps or crystal balls that can be separated manually without major effort. The introduction of needed moisture into the package will help as well.
What are the methods to soften the hardened sugar?
You can manually loosen the brown sugar or introduce moisture into the package. You can break the clumps with a fork or try grinding them in an electric blender.
How to tell if brown sugar is bad?
The brown sugar has to be immediately discarded if there are any signs of bugs, insects, wet clumps, or molds. Dry lumps can be easily broken off, or the sugar can be smoothened by following the above process. The dried brown sugar is bound to have insects or bugs when spoiled. If insects, bugs, larvae, or eggs are present in the bag, the sugar is not safe to consume or use.
