Brown sugar, where has it gone?

White sugar was very difficult to get online on several occasions during lockdown.
I wonder if people bought brown instead and have depleted stock.

It's a theory, but I never had any problems getting white sugar in this area, just loo roll and flour!

I didn't realise that brown sugar is actually white sugar with molasses added, I always thought it was more natural!

Well thank you, B9exchange I will have that Rolling Stones song in my head for hours now!

My daughter managed to get brown sugar for me in both Lidl and Aldi.

Thank you Marydoll, will try there. So sorry Phoenix!

I was just telling DH this last week. Muscovado sugar has been on my shopping list for weeks. I use both dark and light in some cakes and biscuits I make regularly.

Finally got some last Thursday (not my usual supermarket). Small packets though. Price was no different! Weird. If it was in short supply, I would presume that price would go up.

Tesco had several types brown sugar last week.

I’ve just discovered at least a pound of it in a hard slab in a container in one of my kitchen cupboards. I’m off to stick some bread in it!

Sainsbury's and Aldi are well stocked with all sugars .

I might have one or two in my big cupboard!! I have to admit it was a panic buy when I couldn't get any ordinary!!

Lexisgranny if you put hardened brown sugar in the microwave for a few seconds at a time, it softens up. But watch it carefully.

I get the impression when the first lockdown happened and we couldn't get any baking ingredients, there was a brief lull before it was all back in the shops again. Marks and Spencer's in particular may have over bought because a short while ago they were selling McDougall's flour at marked down prices, I stocked up then, I also bought an enormous 3kg bag of icing sugar that they were selling off half price which should do me for birthday cakes for the foreseeable future.

I'm kicking myself though because I went to Sainsburys yesterday where they had plenty of everything but forgot to buy brown sugar and have just realised we are running low on that. Oh well if it's all gone by the next time I go will have to use golden caster, or muscovado, can't be helped!

I am expecting an online delivery from Morrisons tomorrow but my loo rolls have been restricted. as has the long-life milk. I only ordered 1 spaghetti but I know that shelf was empty last week at Waitrose. It took me nearly a week to get a delivery date so we appear to be returning to March madness.

WOODMOUSE
Finally got some last Thursday (not my usual supermarket). Small packets though. Price was no different!

Yes, I ordered some in my online shop and didn't notice the size, just the price.
Same price but a smaller packet.

I didn't realise that brown sugar is actually white sugar with molasses added, I always thought it was more natural!
B9exchange Brown sugar should be only partially refined and still has some of the molasses left in it.
Perhaps some firms do add molasses to refined white sugar - it would be interesting to know which ones do that.

Grandmabatty thanks for the tip, will do that when I need the sugar, certainly beats a meat tenderiser,

Never knew about microwaving it Grandmabatty. When I think of all the rock solid brown sugar I've chucked out over the years.......

Sainsbury’s and Aldi have plenty. I use quite a lot for baking so hope there isn’t going to be a shortage.

Chewbacca

Never knew about microwaving it Grandmabatty. When I think of all the rock solid brown sugar I've chucked out over the years.......

You can do the same with honey which has crystallised.

Plenty in Waitrose today .

Thanks Callistemon! I've always just stuck the jar in a bowl of boiling water and stirred like mad! Doh!

It does crystallise again fairly soon, though, so if it's a jarful I would just dig out what you need.

Callistemon

Chewbacca

Never knew about microwaving it Grandmabatty. When I think of all the rock solid brown sugar I've chucked out over the years.......

You can do the same with honey which has crystallised.

Pop a marshmallow in the bag/box with the block of hardened brown sugar. Works a treat, with none of the risk of the microwave. No, I don't know why...

haven't bought sugar since the 1970s, when there was a shortage, so we gave up using it.