How to Save Rock Hard Granulated Sugar

Dear Home Ec 101,

I have a 5lb bag of white sugar that is rock hard. Can it be saved? Is it safe to eat?

Signed,

Sugarland

Heather says:

Don't worry your granulated sugar is not unsafe, it's just inconvenient in its current form. White sugar does not support microbial growth, so it's not going to go "bad." Sugar is hygroscopic -it absorbs water from the air- this is why it is recommended to store sugar in an air tight container.

All you have to do is break your sugar back into very small pieces.. There are a variety of ways, but whichever you choose, just make sure you plan wisely.

If you choose the drop the bag on the floor repeatedly method, you'll want to be sure the bag is INSIDE another bag. If the bag bursts open, well that's not going to be fun to clean up.

Meat mallets, rolling pins, or even hammers are all useful in this chore. Just make sure you aren't pulverizing the bag into the sugar. No one wants paper or plastic bits in their morning coffee. Any of these have the added bonus of being a fantastic stress reliever.

Once the pieces are small enough you can use a food processor or blender to finish the job. Just make sure you don't overload the motor. Sugar is relatively inexpensive compared to replacing an appliance.

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