7 Surprising Uses For Brown Sugar Savers

smiling blond woman placing brown sugar saver into canister of brown sugar/woman's hands spooning soft brown sugar out of canister

Those Little Terracotta Sugar Savers Are Surprisingly Versatile

While keeping brown sugar on hand certainly comes in handy when a chocolate chip cookie craving strikes, it isn’t the easiest ingredient to store! I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve reached for a bag of brown sugar in my pantry, only to discover it had become a rock-solid sugar brick.

But once I started storing my pantry ingredients in airtight storage containers, I discovered a brilliantly simple and extremely inexpensive solution to my problem: a brown sugar saver! I’ve been a big fan of these little discs ever since, but recently, I learned about several alternative uses for brown sugar savers that made me love them even more! :-)

In today’s post, I’ll be sharing 7 surprising uses for brown sugar savers (apart from saving brown sugar, of course.) But before we jump in, here’s a quick refresher on what they actually are, and how they work to keep things fresh.

close up of woman's hands putting a brown sugar saver into a canister of brown sugar

A brown sugar saver is a small piece of terracotta that you can store in a container of brown sugar (or other foods) to keep it soft and pliable. But contrary to what its name suggests, brown sugar savers are surprisingly versatile, and there’s a number of ways you can put them to good use around the house!

How To Use Brown Sugar Savers

Method #1: Use It Wet

If you’re using a brown sugar saver to keep something moist or prevent staleness (such as brown sugar), you need to load it up with moisture first! To do this, simply soak the terracotta piece in water overnight, then pat it dry before using.

Method #2: Use It Dry

You can also use a brown sugar saver to keep things dry! Dry terracotta is very absorbent, making it highly useful for absorbing excess or unwanted moisture.

To use a brown sugar saver in this fashion, just bake it in your oven at 200°F for 5-10 minutes to ensure it’s bone-dry. Allow it cool completely before using.

Related: Uses For Silica Gel Packets

smiling blond woman putting a brown sugar saver into a canister of brown sugar

7 Practical Uses For Brown Sugar Savers

Note: For items #1-4 in the list below, follow the instructions from “Use It Wet” above. For items #5-7, follow the instructions under “Use It Dry.”

1. Marshmallows

Stumped as to how to keep marshmallows fresh, or tired of tossing them out when they’re hard as a rock? Store marshmallows in an airtight container with a brown sugar saver to keep them soft and pillowy!

woman's hand putting brown sugar saver onto a tray of cookies/tray of cookies wrapped in plastic wrap with brown sugar saver inside

2. Baked Goods

Keep your favorite baked goods fresh with the help of a brown sugar saver. Store one with cookies, bread, and muffins to keep them soft and moist for much longer.

3. Dried Fruit

Want to keep your dried fruit stash chewy, instead of hard and tough? Put a brown sugar saver in with your favorite dried fruits like apricots, mango, and more to keep them from going stale.

4. Fresh Herbs

Keep a brown sugar saver with herbs in your fridge to keep them fresh! This works particularly well for hardier herbs like rosemary, thyme, etc.

woman's hand putting brown sugar saver between spice bottles on a shelf

5. Spices

Buying whole spices and grinding them at home can take the flavor of your favorite recipes to the next level! Store ground spices with a dry brown sugar saver to prevent clumps and keep them fresh.

woman's hand putting a brown sugar saver on the shelf with vitamin bottles

6. Supplements & Medications

If you keep supplements or medications in your bathroom, stash a brown sugar saver alongside them. The humid environment of your bathroom can cause pills to break down or even dissolve, but the brown sugar saver will draw moisture away from them to help keep them dry.

7. Pet Food

If you live in a humid area, then you probably already know how tricky it can be to keep things dry! This is especially true of dry pet foods, which can quickly go from dry to soggy in humid conditions.

The best way to keep your pet’s food dry is to transfer it to an airtight container ASAP. Then add a brown sugar saver as an added layer of protection against sogginess!

close up of woman's hands spooning soft brown sugar out of a canister containing a brown sugar saver

Brown Sugar Saver Placement Tips

Depending on what you’re storing it with, the placement of your brown sugar saver can make a difference.
A good, general rule of thumb: Placing your sugar saver at the center of the substance will help it release moisture (or absorb it) more evenly.
Keep in mind that some food items, including marshmallows, cookies, and dried fruit, will fare better if they don’t make direct contact with the terracotta.

Here are some more ways to use other cool kitchen tools:

Have you ever used a brown sugar saver in your kitchen?