How to restore solidified sugar?

[Cash]

We were cleaning out the pantry last week and came across a five-pound sack of sugar that had been pushed to the back -- apparently several years ago. The sugar has solidified into one big block. It's in a paper package, so do I strip away the package and then take a hammer to it or is there a better way of restoring the sugar to usable condition?

[Dixie Bee Acres]

You said it, peel the paper, then smash it.

[spacecase0]

i always wanted solid sugar,
just pour water over the solid bits to get sugar water,
the ants can't carry off the solid block of sugar
if I had solid sugar and wanted grains again,
I would crush it up with a hammer enough to get it in my grain mill and then grind it to the size I wanted

[WoolyBear]

Put a bowl of water in the microwave, run micro to build up a really good amount of steam. Quickly open the micro door and shove in the sugar - I've done it both ways, hammered out big chunks into a bowl or just open the bag and shove it in. Let sugar set for awhile until it looks like the steam is gone. Remove the container of sugar, mix it around and remove the loose sugar. Repeat as often as necessary.

[unregistered5595]

I know! I know! I know!
I had this happen a few years ago with 5-4lb bags.
Drop it in the garage on the cement floor first.

Then take big chunks of it, microwave it for 15 seconds at a time, until you can mush it with your hands into a container, voila! The residual moisture in the chunks gets warm and releases the crystals.

Woolybear's method probably works fine too, I've just never tried it that way.

[Astrid]

Originally Posted by WoolyBear

Put a bowl of water in the microwave, run micro to build up a really good amount of steam. Quickly open the micro door and shove in the sugar - I've done it both ways, hammered out big chunks into a bowl or just open the bag and shove it in. Let sugar set for awhile until it looks like the steam is gone. Remove the container of sugar, mix it around and remove the loose sugar. Repeat as often as necessary.

Does this method keep it from hardening back up again? I've also heard of putting a piece of bread in a container with the sugar to soften it back up again. I haven't tried it personally. I prefer the smashing method. Kinda fun to work frustrations out.

[Rustaholic]

Just bust it up and eat the pieces.

My 90 year old mother wanted me to pick up a new bag of rock salt for her porch. She said her last one had turned into a rock.
I took it to the basement and smacked it on the cement floor a few times and gave it back to her.

[TerriLynn]

What about peeling back just enough paper to use a cheese grater to shave off what you need?

[Harry Chickpea]

Nothing new in the world:

http://www.oldandinteresting.com/sugar-nippers.aspx

[Cygnet]

Seal it up in a plastic bag with a couple slices of bread. Wait a couple days.

[oregon woodsmok]

With brown sugar, you put a slice of apple in with it and seal it up. I suspect that might work with granulated sugar, too.

[geo in mi]

Originally Posted by Harry Chickpea

Nothing new in the world:

http://www.oldandinteresting.com/sugar-nippers.aspx

Deleted, couldn't get pictue to post

geo

[geo in mi]

Originally Posted by oregon woodsmok

With brown sugar, you put a slice of apple in with it and seal it up. I suspect that might work with granulated sugar, too.

Used to work with pipe tobacco, too.

geo

[tkhadre]

Set it in the yard on a stump and shot at it with a .22 until it's a powder again. Collect the grains and you're set.

Just going along with some of the other creative ideas in this thread for a problem that seems really simple haha.

[suitcase_sally]

I smack mine with a rolling pin while it's inside the bag. Works pretty good. Solidified sugar happens more often in humid climates.

Take a piece of a clean terra cotta flower pot, break it up, soak in water and place with the sugar. Keeps it soft.

[stef]

After wearing myself out trying to soften 15 pounds of rock hard sugar, I gave up and gave it away!

Not worth it!

[emdeengee]

Soak a big handful of raisins in hot water for about 15 minutes. Drain and pat dry. Place sugar in a big food safe plastic bag and throw in the raisins. Seal the bag and let sit for a couple of days. Break up the sugar as it softens.

I always keep a few soaked raisins in our sugar bowl and brown sugar jar and we always have lovely soft sugar. And you can eat the raisins.

[hoddedloki]

When this happened to me, I just put the unwrapped block in the sugar bin that lives on my counter and ground it loose again with a pastry knife. If you twist the knife as opposed to just trying to cut, it goes a lot faster.

That way you don't lose any sugar, nor do you have to deal with it solidifying again.

Loki

[ronbre]

put it in a sealed bag with a couple of pieces of fresh bread..remove bread when hard and stale and sugar should be soft

[Cash]

Thanks to everyone who responded. I'll try the bread and/or apple slice method first. If they don't work, time for the .22!