How can I soften white sugar that has clumped up

White sugar can be softened by heating or increasing humidity after clumping. Sugar clumping is usually caused by the evaporation of moisture after being affected by moisture, resulting in sugar particles sticking together, or by low humidity in the storage environment.

Put the clumped white sugar into a microwave container and heat it on low to medium heat for about ten seconds. Take it out and gently tap it to loosen it. During microwave heating, residual moisture inside the sugar granules evaporates, effectively separating the sticky sugar crystals. Be careful to avoid prolonged high-temperature processing to prevent the melting or coking of white sugar. You can also place the sugar jar in a bowl filled with hot water and use steam humidity to gradually soften the sugar cubes. This method is suitable for large amounts of clumped white sugar. If the clumping is severe and difficult to handle, white sugar can be sealed and stored together with fresh apple slices or bread slices. The water vapor released by fruits and bread can penetrate sugar cubes within 12 hours, and the natural fruit acid in apples can also help break down sugar crystals. Attention should be paid to timely removal of additives to avoid excessive water absorption and spoilage of white sugar. Long term storage is recommended to use sealed cans and place food desiccants to maintain an appropriate humidity range.

Daily storage of white sugar should be done in a cool and dry place to avoid drastic temperature changes. Ceramic or glass sealed cans are more moisture-proof than plastic containers, and can be coated with food grade wax paper inside the can to block water vapor. If the living environment is humid, the storage container can be regularly placed in sunlight to dry and sterilize. Agglomerated white sugar does not affect food safety, but it may affect the dissolution rate during baking. It is recommended to sieve the pastry before making.