How to store Brown Sugar Properly | Talking Food vlog episode 8

[@iamstorie882]

I store mine in a glass container with a brown sugar bear. It's a clay little bear that you soak in water then put it in the container with the brown sugar. Never ever gets hard. Found it for less than $5

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Now that is an awesome idea!!! Yeah there are terra cotta discs or something like that, you can use as well. The brown sugar I used yesterday that was hard as a rock, is soft today. haha I used the bread method.

[@janicethomas9514]

Where did you find the bear? I'd like to purchase one.

[@iamstorie882]

@@janicethomas9514 from Kitchen Collection. But you can find them anywhere most of the time. Of Amazon. I’ve seen them at Walmart/Target. Where the kitchen gadgets are sold.

[@carrieokie49]

Just googled it and saw a 2 pack on Amazon for $9 or so 😊

[@deniseravizza3287]

Vacuum sealer works wonders have kept brown sugar this way for over 5 yrs with no problems whatsoever just reseal after each use

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Yes! Those are great. But then you would have to own a vacuum sealer. :) For those people who don't own one there are options as well. :)

[@araventerpriseservicespllc289]

They're all great ideas thank you so much!

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Thank you! And you are welcome!

[@joyrobbins6180]

I have stored brown sugar for years in a glass mason jar, removing the air with the Food Saver jar attachment! It works perfectly....always soft sugar. I store all kinds of dry foods this way. However, I have recently become aware of the warnings that botulism can grow in foods higher than 10% moisture that are placed in an oxygen free environment. I have called C &H sugar...they wont comment about botulism or even tell me what the moisture content is in their sugar. Seems strange that it is SAFE to store brown sugar in an airtight container or keep in its original plastic bag and then put that inside a Food Saver bag where you remove the air. Isn't that the same thing??? In frustration...I have opened up all my brown sugar bottles, placed on a cookie sheet for a day to dry it out...then boiken it up and put back into bottles. I cant imagine this will be very good in cookies! Do u have any other ideas?

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

mmm, you can put a slice of apple or piece of bread in the glass bottles to return the moisture to the brown sugar. But if you are leery about the moisture, then I don't really have any other ideas. You can just use the dried brown sugar. Or you can try and refrigerate it. With that said, Botulism is extremely rare, and I have never heard of a case that involved brown sugar. I personally am not worried about it. But that is just me. :) Or best case scenario, use the brown sugar in its package within a month or two. :) Another thing you can do is dry it out like you did, do the bread/apple trick the night before you want to use it. Then it will be soft the next day. Use it, and then let it dry out again. Repeat when you want to use it. :)

[@Lily_Samson]

Once your brown sugar is soft and pliable, use some mini terracotta pots (seedling size, about 2” wide). Disinfect it with equal parts peroxide/water, let it dry out. Then soak it in purified water, or good tap water, shake off excess and stuff it in your brown sugar. Twist up your bag and put it in any airtight container. Perfection! I’ve had mine in for at least a decade.Whenever I use it, if it’s been awhile, I’ll dig out the pot(s) and re-wet them. P.S. I bought pots made in America for safety reasons! I promise it’s NO FAIL doing it this way! 🦋Lily🦋

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Yes terracotta pots are great. Same with the terra cotta discs which are used for brown sugar as well. The discs are soaked then patted dried and put in the bag with the brown sugar. Similar idea to those showed in the video with the apple and bread, the brown sugar soaks the moisture from the disc.

[@lalva2024]

With the apples, does it then have to be stored in the refrigerator until soft?

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

No, don't put it in the fridge. Leave it at room temperature. It will soften up within 12 to 24 hours.

[@lalva2024]

@@inthekitchenwithmatt ok, thanx

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

@@lalva2024 You are welcome!

[@susanfennimore3152]

Will the bread mold?

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Don't leave it in the whole time, after the sugar softens again (it only takes a day usually) you can remove the bread.

[@pauletterichards4755]

Good idea

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Thanks!

[@jkledis]

Where did you get the silicone bag?

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Hello Jim, sorry I meant to put the link down in the description. Here it is: amzn.to/2H7eIPT

[@taryn4080]

How did you do your transcript on KZbin? Thanks

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

I listened to the video and typed it out. :) It's annoying, but works. KZbin also does one automatically but it rarely is any good. haha

[@stephaniewithrow4685]

Thanks my sugar is rock hard. I can’t wait to try this!

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

You are welcome!! Let me know how it goes :)

[@annieobrien9783]

My sugar is a year past the date but very moist so don't know if it is safe.

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Yes it is still safe unless it smells bad or there are critters in it. Sugar has a much longer self-life than what is on the packaging.

[@gahunia111]

Raw sugar can be stored in freezer ?

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Yes you can store raw sugar or pretty much any kind of sugar in the freezer. But don't store it in the fridge.

[@NaeemKhan-uv9yy]

Hello Matt thanks for the information. Have a great day

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

You are very welcome! You too!

[@fairynerdmother]

The brown sugar won't take the flavor of the apples? Great video and info, as always! Love your videos :)

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

No not much, maybe a very slight hint of it, but not very noticeable, and not noticeable in baked goods. :) But bread works great so you can do that instead or a couple marshmallows if you are worried. :)

[@annemartin8520]

Hi Matt! Very useful video. Thank you.

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Hello Anne! You are very welcome!

[@annemartin8520]

In The Kitchen With Matt pls make a video on different salad dressings pls.

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Sounds good, I will put them on my list. :)

[@annemartin8520]

In The Kitchen With Matt thank you.

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

You are welcome Anne!

[@hamsadel6974]

Waaah that is really smart idea!

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Thank you! Yeah it is soo awesome, you know that brick of brown sugar I used in the video, I used the bread slice and one small piece of apple, and the next day, super soft and ready to use. :) Such a neat little trick.

[@hamsadel6974]

+In The Kitchen With Matt wow I love this kind of magical things really!💛

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Yeah! They are really awesome!

[@donnaspybuck1003]

Thanks

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

You are welcome!

[@pault477]

link to bags?

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Hi Paul there are two sizes of bags amzn.to/2H6rKzH​

[@jlathem56]

Cool tip Matt. :)

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Thank you J!

[@ImpressiveOnion]

Nice video!

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Thank you!!

[@cyberninja76a]

Interesting

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Thanks!

[@eagle2D2]

Sugar goes bad?

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

It certainly can, if not stored properly, but other than that technically it won't really expire and can last well beyond the "expiration date or best by date" on the package. With that said, if not store properly you can have things like the brown sugar hardening, bugs, bad smells, mold, etc.

[@eagle2D2]

@@inthekitchenwithmatt Can it hurt you if it goes bad? I have some brown sugar that expired in November. It was kept in the original bag inside a storage bag in the cabinet.

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

@@eagle2D2 Just make sure to inspect it first it is highly unlikely that if it just expired in November that it would be bad. Check for bad smells, mold, and bugs. If none of those things are present, use one of the methods I showed and soften and brown sugar back up and use it. :) :)

[@sarajanehart6887]

Thank you, Matt! I needed another method ...no microwave appliance here.

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

You are very welcome! :)

[@danas3818]

and yet, nothing about whether you should pack it down or leave it loose before closing the bag.

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

it doesn't really matter. If you leave it loose it can harder a little quicker, but you can easily soften it again. The main point is, storing it just in the bag it came with isn't the best way to store it.

[@ImpressiveOnion]

Please make a video showing how to make a good BBQ sauce :D

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Great suggestion!! Will put it on my list! :)

[@mystiquerose620]

Awesome tips..thanks

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

You are very welcome! :)

[@ThornBoyz2207]

How many bags of brown sugar have I wasted before today? Countless!!! Today my days of wasting brown sugar are OVER!!!!!

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Yes!! Such a simple remedy to save hard brown sugar. :)

[@dominiquew.8181]

Sugar never expires!

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Not technically, but it definitely can go bad/rancid if not stored correctly which is still "expiring." And they are definitely best when used within a certain time.

[@hootmanwillie]

and as always, there's your dinner

[@pinkbeautytwinkle]

Sugar does not expire. Same thing with salt.

[@inthekitchenwithmatt]

Correct, BUT after time sugar loses its potency. It still can be used, though. And with that said, if brown sugar is hard as a rock (it is considered BAD, not spoiled) especially if it is supposed to be soft for baking, which it is. Hence the whole reason for this video. I never said anything about it being spoiled. I only mentioned the expiration date which was stamped on the packaging. (which is for quality reasons not safety reasons)