Sugar is one of the most important ingredients in many recipes. It is one of the major sources of energy in human and therefore it is always recommended as a part of balanced diet in order to provide carbohydrates to the body. Although, it may appear that usage of sugar is associated only with food, but on the contrary there are many other applications of sugar like preservation, burned tongue, pest control and cleaning. Whenever you are storing food items for long time, it’s always better to store sugar also along with other things. However, if you are not familiar with the methods of storing sugar, then the following instructions and tips can definitely help you out. Read on.
Complexity Level: Basic
Time Required: 10 minutes
Resources Required:
-
Sugar
-
Air-tight container
-
Zip bag (optional)
Instructions:
1. Preparing the storage containers
-
First of all, you need to make sure that all the inner surfaces of the container that you are going to use for storing sugar are clean and dry.
-
Oxygen absorbing packet can be used in case you are using foil pouches or canning jars. Just place one packet in each of the container.
-
In case of plastic buckets, dry ice can be used for the purpose. As far as quantity of dry ice is concerned, one ounce of it per gallon will be sufficient.
2. Filling the containers with the sugar
-
If you are using foil pouches, then fill sugar in them up to 80% of their total volume and jars to 90% of their total volume.
-
In case of buckets, fill sugar in them within one inch of the top.
3. Sealing the containers
-
Impulse heat sealer must be used for the foils but make sure that the seal is air-tight. Another layer of sealer can also be applied for additional precaution.
-
In case of jars, the most important thing before sealing them is to make sure that the gasket on the lid is not damaged. Close the jar tightly with the lid.
-
For plastic buckets, do not close the bucket completely with the lid before the dry ice has sublimed. Touch the bottom of the bucket, if it start feeling warmer then understand that the dry ice has sublimed and place the lid on it tightly. If the bucket starts bulging out, then remove the lid for few minutes to remove excess pressure from inside.
4. Storage of containers
Storage location of the containers is also equally important. All food items must be stored in a cool, dry place preferably on the shelves which are off the floor. Make sure that the containers must be away from reach of rodents.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the shelf life of sugar?
It’s always said that sugar has an indefinite shelf life, provided it is stored properly. However, it is best to use the stored sugar within a period of two years.
Quick Tips:
-
As far as brown sugar is concerned, it can be stored in the freezer. However, you need to thaw it few hours before using.
-
Raw sugar is recommended over refined sugar, in case you are health conscious.
Things To Watch Out For:
-
It is very important to keep the sugar dry as it is very sensitive towards moisture.
-
You have to make sure that the container in which you are storing sugar is air-tight as it has the tendency of absorbing flavors and smells from the surrounding air.
