Sugar is a staple ingredient in many homes, but proper storage is crucial to keep it fresh and prevent clumping, especially in hot weather. Sugar absorbs moisture easily, which causes it to solidify into hard lumps that are difficult to break up. Thankfully, there are several steps you can take to preserve your sugar storage during the summer months or in hot, humid climates.
Quick tips for storing sugar in hot weather
– Keep sugar in an airtight container. This prevents moisture and humidity from getting in. Glass, plastic, and stainless steel containers with tight-fitting lids work best.
– Store sugar in a cool, dry place. The ideal temperature is between 50-70°F. Avoid places like cabinets above ovens or near dishwashers.
– Use up opened boxes and bags of sugar quickly. Sealed packages protect better against moisture.
– Consider freezing extra sugar to prolong its life, especially during hot humid weather. It keeps almost indefinitely frozen.
– Add a few grains of rice to your sugar container. Rice grains absorb excess moisture, helping keep sugar free-flowing.
Why proper sugar storage is important
Storing sugar incorrectly can cause a variety of problems:
Clumping/Hardening
Sugar easily absorbs moisture from the air. In humid conditions, damp sugar particles will clump together as the moisture evaporates. The sugar solidifies into hard, stubborn lumps. Hardened brown sugar takes on a concrete-like texture almost impossible to scoop or break up.
Color Changes
Exposure to moisture and humidity causes white sugar to gradually turn yellow or brown. Brown sugar often hardens and becomes paler in color due to moisture loss.
Flavor Loss
Sugar starts deteriorating as soon as the package is opened. Exposed to moisture and humidity, the sugar loses its sweetness and may take on an undesirable flavor. Hardened brown sugar loses much of its distinctive molasses taste.
Microbial Growth
Dampness provides an environment where mold and bacteria can thrive. Sugar contaminated with microbes becomes unsafe for consumption. Storing in an airtight container helps protect against microbial growth.
Tips for keeping sugar dry and free-flowing
The key strategy for maintaining fresh, lump-free sugar is keeping it dry by protecting against humidity and moisture. Here are some top storage tips:
Use airtight containers
The best way to keep humidity out is storing sugar in an airtight container. Glass, plastic, and stainless steel containers prevent moisture-laden air from reaching the sugar. Look for containers with a rubber gasket or tight-fitting lid. Make sure to keep the container sealed tightly at all times.
Avoid damp locations
Store sugar in a dry spot away from moisture sources. Avoid cabinet space near the oven, dishwasher, sink, or refrigerator. The heat and steam from appliances can introduce moisture into your cabinets. An ideal storage spot is a pantry or cupboard in a climate-controlled area of the home.
Keep cool
Store sugar in a cool area between 50-70°F if possible. Heat accelerates moisture absorption. In hot climates, consider keeping sugar containers in the refrigerator to prevent clumping – just allow the sugar to come to room temperature before use. Make sure the container is truly airtight if refrigerating.
Use up opened packages quickly
Once opened, sugar should be used up rapidly. Only open one container at a time if you don’t go through sugar quickly. Sealed boxes and bags provide better protection against humidity than open packages.
Add rice grains
Placing a few rice grains in your sugar helps absorb excess moisture. Use a few grains per one-pound box or 1/4 cup grains for five-pound bags. The rice pulls in dampness, keeping the sugar dry.
Storing different types of sugar
Granulated white sugar, brown sugar, and powdered sugar each have particular storage requirements:
Granulated white sugar
Fully sealed, granulated white sugar keeps 12-18 months at room temperature. Once opened, try to use up within six months. If the climate is damp, sugar may start clumping before six months. Storing granulated white sugar in the refrigerator prolongs freshness.
Brown sugar
The fine consistency and molasses make brown sugar especially prone to hardening. Keep it sealed airtight at room temperature and use within 3-4 months. Don’t refrigerate – the cold air actually dries it out faster. You can revive hardened brown sugar by sealing it in an airtight container with a slice of bread for a day or two.
Powdered sugar
Also called confectioner’s sugar, powdered sugar clumps fastest out of common sugars. Keep it in an airtight container in a cool area for up to 18 months. Because of its fine texture, it absorbs moisture easily. Refrigerating helps powdered sugar last longer before clumping occurs.
Reviving hardened brown sugar
If your brown sugar does harden, clump together, or become pale, you can often restore it:
Use a slice of bread
Place the hardened brown sugar in an airtight container along with a slice of bread for 1-2 days. As the bread dries out, it will pull moisture from the sugar, softening it. Replace with a fresh slice if needed.
Use a baked potato
A baked potato can work the same way. Add it to the brown sugar and reseal for 12-24 hours until the potato has absorbed excess moisture.
Use fresh fruit
Fruits high in water content like apples, oranges, or lemons can rehydrate dried out brown sugar. Seal in an airtight container with sections of fresh fruit for 24 hours.
Use heat
Microwaving brown sugar for 10-20 seconds can help loosen up hardened clumps. Place it in a microwave-safe container and heat until warm. Remove immediately and break chunks apart with a fork.
You can also heat a small amount of water (1-2 tablespoons) until simmering. Remove from heat and add 1 cup hardened brown sugar. Stir for 1-2 minutes until completely dissolved. Allow to cool and dry before re-sealing.
Storing large quantities of sugar
For those purchasing 5-10 pound bags of sugar at a time, ideal storage takes some additional steps:
Separate into smaller containers
A large package takes longer to use up once opened. Immediately divide sugar purchased in bulk into smaller airtight containers for daily use. This limits exposure to humidity. Glass canning jars work great for smaller amounts.
Use Mylar bags
Mylar bags provide superior long-term storage for large quantities of sugar. Sugar sealed in these moisture-proof bags keeps for 10-25 years if stored properly. You can buy pre-made Mylar bags designed for sugar storage.
Vacuum seal if possible
For even longer preservation, vacuum seal Mylar sugar bags using a home food sealer or vacuum chamber machine. Vacuum sealing removes oxygen and fully protects the sugar. With vacuum sealing, sugar can last up to 30 years in Mylar bags.
Freeze extra
For long term storage, put any extra sugar not needed for daily use in the freezer. Sugar is highly stable when frozen and will keep almost indefinitely when stored airtight at 0°F or below.
How humidity affects sugar
To understand how to best store sugar, it helps to know how ambient humidity and moisture affects sugar:
Sugar is hygroscopic
Sugar is a hygroscopic substance, meaning it readily attracts and absorbs moisture from the surrounding environment. Exposure to humidity accelerates this moisture-absorbing process.
Moisture causes clumping
When damp sugar particles come into contact, the moisture acts as adhesive and binds the grains together. Drying moisture further cements this bond, creating stubborn clumps and solid chunks.
Humidity accelerates moisture absorption
The hygroscopic nature of sugar means it naturally absorbs some moisture. But high humidity provides more moisture for the sugar to take in, speeding the rate of clumping and hardening.
Temperature influences moisture absorption
Heat accelerates the process of moisture absorption. At higher temperatures, sugar pulls in ambient moisture more quickly. Storing sugar in a cool place helps slow clumping.
Brown sugar is extra vulnerable
The fine crystals and molasses in brown sugar make it especially sensitive to humidity. It quickly clumps and hardens when exposed to moisture-laden air.
Signs your sugar has too much moisture
Look for these warning signs that your stored sugar has absorbed excess humidity and moisture:
– Clumping – Sugar granules stick together in hard lumps rather than flowing freely.
– Solid chunks – Sugar has hardened into solid masses; brown sugar takes on a concrete-like texture.
– Difficult to scoop – Sugar does not easily pour out of the container; spoon seems to get “stuck.”
– Damp feel – Sugar feels slightly wet or sticky; may look glossy.
– Mold – Signs of fuzzy mold growing on surface of sugar.
– Pale color – Brown sugar has lost its dark color; may look ash-gray when hardened.
– Weakened flavor – Sugar has lost its pronounced sweetness.
– Sticky container – Sugar has oozed out and dried on the container lid or seams.
Frequently asked questions
Does sugar go bad?
Properly stored sugar does not truly expire or go bad, but it can deteriorate in quality. Kept dry and sealed, white granulated sugar lasts 2-3 years and brown sugar lasts 6-12 months. If sugar becomes hardened, changes color, or grows mold, it has absorbed excess moisture and should be discarded.
Should you refrigerate sugar?
Refrigeration can greatly extend the life of opened sugar by protecting it from humidity. Sugar can last over 5 years properly sealed in the refrigerator. The cold temperature prevents moisture absorption. Just remember to let sugar come to room temp before use.
Can you freeze sugar?
Yes, sugar freezes well for long-term storage. When kept frozen at 0°F, sugar remains stable almost indefinitely. Vacuum sealed sugar frozen in a Mylar bag can last 30+ years without deteriorating.
Does sugar absorbs water from the air?
Yes. Sugar is hygroscopic, meaning it readily absorbs moisture from humid air. This ability to pull in water molecules is why sugar easily clumps in hot, damp conditions. Proper storage keeps humidity away from the sugar.
Why does sugar get hard in summer?
The higher humidity and temperatures of summer accelerate moisture absorption. Sugar particles bind together as ambient moisture evaporates after being absorbed. Hardened sugar is the result of moisture evaporating after contacting the hygroscopic sugar grains.
Conclusion
Storing sugar properly is easy with some simple preparation – keep it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Glass, plastic, or steel canisters prevent humidity exposure. Use up opened packages quickly and avoid storage near heat and moisture. Finally, add rice grains to the container to absorb any trace moisture. Following these tips, your sugar will stay fresh and free-flowing even in hot, humid conditions.
