"Simply soak the terra cotta in water for about 30 minutes, dry the excess water thoroughly, and place it with your brown sugar in an airtight container. "Even one from a broken pot works," says Gaine. The porous nature of the terracotta allows it to absorb water, which is then transferred to the hardened brown sugar. To further improve this method - which Gaine says is her favorite - is to add a piece of damp terra cotta inside the container. "To prevent brown sugar from getting hard in the first place, store it properly in an airtight container," says Gaine. Transfer brown sugar to an airtight container rather than storing it in the bag it came in. Remember: Use the softened brown sugar right away after performing any of the below quick-softening methods. The method you choose will be based on the amount of time you have, as well as the materials and appliances you have available to you. Alternatively, you can use piece of bread or apple to soften brown sugar overnight. You can use a microwave, an oven, or a piece of terracotta, along with water, to transfer or restore moisture to hardened brown sugar. There are a few easy ways to restore moisture to brown sugar. Hard brown sugar needs more than to simply be broken up - it needs to have moisture added back into it," says Gaine. "Brown sugar hardens because the molasses that gives it its brown color and rich flavor loses its moisture. Restoring moisture to hardened brown sugar is the easy solution to this common cooking challenge, says Courtney Gaine, president and CEO of the Sugar Association.
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But one challenge of using brown sugar is the ingredient's tendency to clump or harden in the box before you're able to use it.
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Brown sugar is used to make baked goods taste better, adding a boost of flavor as well as textural complexity to meats, vegetables, and other savory dishes.