This little trick is a game-changer.
My pantry has had OXO bins ever since a site called BCP recommended them. Everything goes into a bin. Cholent beans, flour, cocoa, confectioners sugar, rice, seeds… you get the idea. Into a bin and labeled, of course. Let’s not forget that step. (Read here all about my labeling obsession. It’s a real problem)
Then there was the brown sugar bin. Which looked a bit funny, and very un-Pinteresty, if you will. It was an OXO bin, with a bag of brown sugar inside it–rolled up and tied with a rubber band. I know. It truly hurt my eyes. But it was either that or hard brown sugar. Something about the OXO container just… didn’t do it. The sugar turned into solid rock.
Then Victoria told me that she uses the Progressive Prokeeper bins (read about them in this post) and that there’s a brown sugar bin with this clay “thing” built-in.
I was amazed to hear from Victoria that this “thing” really works. And that intrigued me. Would this be my solution to the eyesore in the pantry dilemma? I wondered.
A quick search online and I had found that same “stone”. Turns out its a disc of terracotta and all you have to do is soak it in water for 20 minutes or so.
If you find your brown sugar hardening again, soak the disc again. I like to soak it every time I refill the sugar (every 6 weeks or so)
I’ve been using a medium sized bin from this set for about a year now. Just empty (2+) bags of brown sugar…. It stays so soft!
I used a chip clip for my brown sugar and place it in a storage bin that has an air tight lid. I’ve not had any issues with it getting hard. I definitely recommend taking the bag out of the box.
oops… here’s the link
A peice of fresh bread works well too. If you have already hardened brown sugar it will magically soften it overnight!
I have this but the coin thing always falls in. Is it suppose to be in its place on the lid or in the sugar? Ty!
I place it directly into the sugar, as pictured
I’ve heard that a marshmallow will work as well. Haven’t had a chance to try it
OXO makes something called a brown sugar keeper. It attaches to the bottom of the cover of the OXO pop containers and keeps sugar soft.
Same ! It’s great! But only works with the newer OXO line
Marshmallow definitely works for me to keep the brown sugar soft.
I’ve been using this brown sugar bear and it works wonders.
Piece of bread will make hard brown sugar soft in a few hours!! The bread gets dry and the brown sugar stays soft if you leave it in there overnight or longer.
These discs sound perfect for the brown sugar issue hardening, What exactly are these made from? Teracotta is often ‘baked’ to harden the clay. Is this an issue with kashrus being that it’s used with food?
Was wondering the same thing! Did you ever get an answer for this?
Hi! We asked a Rav and he assured us there is no problem at all. But, as always, please ask your LOR
Does it have to be toiveled?
We asked a Rav and he told us we do not need to. But please, as always, ask your LOR
I guess I’m using my brown sugar often or my brand of sugar combined with oxo container works, but I don’t recall ever having brown sugar get hard …
Is this just me ????