Brown sugar, where has it gone?

Isn't it amazing what you learn on Gransnet!

It certainly is Shrub! Just tonight I've learnt about sugar beet and it's uses; how to soften crystalized honey in a jar and several ways of softening brown sugar instead of binning it!

That's really encouraging that many of you are finding it, I usually order online from Morrisons and they haven't had any for months, so I can feel a trip to Aldi or Tesco coming on....

Chewbacca

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

I always place a damp clean teatowel over hard brown sugar, it soon goes soft again.
I must try and get some before everyone buys it for making
Christmas cakes.

Actually no Chewbacca, have a read of this www.countrysideonline.co.uk/food-and-farming/feeding-the-nation/sugar/

Isn't it amazing what you learn on Gransnet!

Isn't sugar beet mainly used as animal feed?

I think sugar from sugar beet is naturally white. Sugar beet is grown in this country too, on local farms, so not so many food miles involved. Support British Farming.

Thanks Blinko, just so happens I've got a bag of marshmallows that I've been looking for an excuse to rip open.

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

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...

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

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

Plenty in Waitrose today .

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.

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

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

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

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.

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 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.

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!

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 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!!

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

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!

Tesco had several types brown sugar last week.