Damp Pantry

[skyplus]

I have a lot of trouble storing salt and sugar. Salt becomes damp and sugar turns to hard lumps. Can anyone advise me as to how to delump sugar. The packet which i bought two days ago is now a stone like lump.
thank you all

[Maydup]

Same for me. I put sugar straight into a plastic tub, keep it air tight and it'll be fine. Same for salt but i keep so little of it that i just have a small tub.

[Mamyalynne]

If you are unable to tackle the dampness in the pantry then you must store dry goods in airtight containers rather than paper or cardboard packs.

Neither will come to any harm being clumped but easier to use if free flowing.

[Maydup]

PS put a slice of apple in the tub with the sugar, leave for a couple of days to soften.

[woofgang]

lock and lock storage is excellent. Airtight and waterproof. If your pantry makes sugar rock hard in two days though, I’d try and address the damp problem.

[Buenchico]

This thread reminds me of a conversation over half a century ago:

Mother of really irritating little 8-year-old brat: "I wish I knew a way to stop the sugar going hard in the larder".

Really irritating little 8-year-old brat (ME!): "Mum, if the sugar keeps going hard in the larder,why don't you simply put it in a cupboard in the living room instead?"

Mother of really irritating little 8-year-old brat: "I never thought of that!"

Problem solved ;-)

[Mamyalynne]

She wouldn't have swapped you though Chris.

[Old_Geezer]

More avoided than solved. It'd still go hard if put in the larder. Lateral thinking was that ?

Http://askville.amazon.com/easiest-soften-pound-bag-white-sugar-turned-brick/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=7021686

[Old_Geezer]

Try a blender/liquidiser.

[Biccylova]

I used to have this problem till I got a shelf fixed just above a radiator, stored there salt and sugar have been fine.

[patsyann]

I'm told a few marshmallows in the container help with soft brown sugar .it seems to be working might be ok with white sugar too.

[clairson59]

A popular solution is to put uncooked rice in with the salt/sugar to absorb the damp.