1. Sweet sauce
Melt the sugar with a little bit of water in a saucepan until it becomes liquid. Use it as a sauce for ice cream or on crepes for breakfast.
2. Grate it
For an added touch of sweetness to fruit, grate a hardened piece of brown sugar using a spoon or fork to sprinkle, for example, over grapefruit.
3. Homemade jello
Whip up an apple and brown sugar gelatin dessert, which will give a second life to hardened brown sugar. It’s a simple treat, topped with a dollop of whipped cream.
ZERO-WASTE RECIPES
Apple Juice and Brown Sugar Jello
4. In the microwave
You can soften brown sugar by warming it for a few seconds in the microwave, so that it becomes easier to incorporate into various recipes. However, we recommend using it immediately, or it will harden again later.
• When brown sugar hardens into rock-hard pieces, we suggest weighing them on a kitchen scale and then grating the required amount. For larger pieces, it’s best to be patient and let them completely melt in a pot or soften in the microwave instead.
• To keep brown sugar from hardening, transfer it to an airtight container rather than leaving it in its original packaging. You can also purchase small pieces of food-safe terracotta from kitchen accessory stores (including Boutique RICARDO!), soak them in water and then place them in the container with the brown sugar.
• If you need to harden brown sugar in a flash, place the amount needed in a bowl and cover with a damp cloth. Microwave for 30 seconds or until the brown sugar softens. Store the unused brown sugar in an airtight container with a piece of bread. In two or three days, it’ll be ready to use again.
Whatever the state of your brown sugar, you now know how to use and cook with it. Want more ways to avoid food waste in the kitchen? Check out our ideas on how to use various leftovers and excess ingredients:
