While keeping brown sugar on hand certainly comes in handy when a chocolate chip cookie craving strikes, it isn’t the easiest ingredient to store! I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve reached for a bag of brown sugar in my pantry, only to discover it had become a rock-solid sugar brick.
But once I started storing my pantry ingredients in airtight storage containers, I discovered a brilliantly simple solution to my problem: a brown sugar saver! I’ve been a big fan of them ever since, but recently, I learned about several alternative uses for brown sugar savers that made me love them even more! :-)
In today’s post, I’ll be sharing 7 surprising uses for brown sugar savers (apart from saving brown sugar, of course.) But before we jump in, here’s a quick refresher on what they actually are, and how they work to keep things fresh.
What Is A Brown Sugar Saver?
A brown sugar saver is a small piece of terracotta that you can store in a container of brown sugar (or other foods) to keep it soft and pliable. But contrary to what its name suggests, brown sugar savers are surprisingly versatile, and there’s a number of ways you can put them to good use around the house!
Using It Wet
If you’re using a brown sugar saver to keep something moist or prevent staleness (such as brown sugar), you need to load it up with moisture first! To do this, simply soak the terracotta piece in water overnight, then pat it dry before using.
Using It Dry
You can also use a brown sugar saver to keep things dry! Dry terracotta is highly absorbent, making it highly useful for absorbing excess or unwanted moisture.
To use a brown sugar saver in this fashion, just bake it in your oven at 200°F for 5-10 minutes to ensure it’s bone-dry. Allow it cool completely before using.
7 Practical Uses For A Brown Sugar Saver
Note: For items #1-4 in the list below, follow the instructions from “Using It Wet” above. For items #5-7, follow the instructions from “Using It Dry.”
1. Marshmallows
Tired of stale marshmallows? Store them in an airtight container with a brown sugar saver to keep them soft and pillowy!
2. Baked Goods
Keep your favorite baked goods fresh with the help of a brown sugar saver. Store one with cookies, bread, and muffins to keep them soft and moist for much longer.
3. Dried Fruit
Want to keep your dried fruit stash chewy, instead of hard and tough? Put a brown sugar saver in with your favorite dried fruits like apricots, mango, and more to keep them from going stale.
4. Fresh Herbs
Keep a brown sugar saver with herbs in your fridge to keep them fresh! This works particularly well for hardier herbs like rosemary, thyme, etc.
5. Spices
Buying whole spices and grinding them at home can take the flavor of your favorite recipes to the next level! Store ground spices with a dry brown sugar saver to prevent clumps and keep them fresh.
6. Supplements & Medications
If you keep supplements or medications in your bathroom, stash a brown sugar saver alongside them. The humid environment of your bathroom can cause pills to break down or even dissolve, but the brown sugar saver will draw moisture away from the to help keep them dry.
7. Pet Food
If you live in a humid area, then you probably already know how tricky it can be to keep things dry! This is especially true of dry pet foods, which can quickly go from dry to soggy in humid conditions.
The best way to keep your pet’s food dry is to transfer it to an airtight container ASAP. Then add a brown sugar saver as an added layer of protection against sogginess!
Bonus Tip: Placement Matters!
Depending on what you’re storing it with, the placement of your brown sugar saver can make a difference. For best results, place it as centrally as possible so that it can absorb/release moisture evenly. Some items (like marshmallows, cookies, dried fruit, etc.) may fare better if you can prevent direct contact with the terracotta.
Have you ever used a brown sugar saver in your kitchen?
#UsesFor #KeepingSpicesFresh #BrightIdeas #CreativeUsesForABrownSugarSaver #KeepingHerbsFresh
