Any danger to leaving brown sugar exposed to air?
Yesterday I went to check if I had brown sugar for a recipe and found that my bag, which comes with a zip lock, was totally unzipped I am guessing for months. Any danger here or should it be ok? I am guessing it's just for convience and to prevent spilling but curious if anyone has any knowledge.
It's "dark" if that matters.
NOTE: I am aware it probably dries it out faster and causes it to become hard but I consider that just a general thing with brown sugar and not a danger=)
Best Answer
While avoiding exposing it to air is to prevent it from hardening, this doesn't occur because of "drying out," actually! The moisture in the air causes the sugar to stick together and form clumps that harden significantly and make it more difficult to work with.
Because it's actually becoming more moist, mold can be a concern there. Letting it sit slightly moist for a few months in the dark cabinet can make it a great place for mold to reproduce and grow. The good news is, most mold is easily detectable just by looking at it. Check the sugar thoroughly and you should be good to go!
In the future, I also suggest getting an airtight storage container like these: http://www.rubbermaid.com/en-US/brilliance-food-storage-containers I use them for things that I keep a lot on hand of, like flour, sugar, and coffee grounds. They keep moisture out and also look nice sitting on a countertop.
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Quick Answer about "Any danger to leaving brown sugar exposed to air?"
The moisture in the air causes the sugar to stick together and form clumps that harden significantly and make it more difficult to work with. Because it's actually becoming more moist, mold can be a concern there.Can you leave brown sugar uncovered?
Brown sugar dries out when exposed to air for too long, losing all of the moisture that its molasses content provides and transforming from wet sand to a sweet, unusable brick.Can brown sugar be exposed to air?
When brown sugar turns hard it is, in part, because of the molasses. What happens is that once the brown sugar is exposed to air, the molasses evaporates, and the sugar crystals stick together and turn hard. But it's the molasses that gives brown sugar its softer texture.Can you leave sugar uncovered?
It's still safe to consume, but you might not find it so appealing anymore. Sugar granules also have the ability to absorb odors from other food nearby, and even if this is not a sign of rancid sugar, you might notice an altered flavor. Once exposed to moisture, sugar can easily clump.Will brown sugar keep in an airtight container?
Air-Tight Container \u2013 A container with a tight-fitting lid or even a resealable plastic bag can really help keep brown sugar from losing so much moisture that it turns into a rock.Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes - Lyrics - 1981
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Answer 2
Since you wrote that it dried out, I would check for two things:
insects;
mold on the surface - but I consider that unlikely.
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