This Genius $5 Product Keeps Your Food Fresher for Longer—and It’s Adorable!
Updated: Apr. 13, 2023
Kiss hard, lumpy brown sugar goodbye with this cute $5 tool.
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Bakers know the feeling: you’re ready to make a batch of chewy chocolate chip cookies but the brown sugar is rock hard. So frustrating! Avoid this common kitchen problem with Amazon’s favorite Brown Sugar Bear.
Once this quirky kitchen gadget enters your life (and your bag of brown sugar), it’ll be far easier to measure and use brown sugar whenever you need a cup. And you’ll save money by keeping the key baking ingredient in the pantry for longer. Stop tossing out bags of half-used sweetener!
With over 10,000 ratings, it’s safe to say that baking enthusiasts can’t get enough of this popular Amazon kitchen gadget, and neither can we. The best part? It’s only five bucks!
What is a Brown Sugar Bear?
The Brown Sugar Bear works two ways. When soaked, it adds moisture to brown sugar and other baking ingredients to prevent them from becoming solid and unusable. When dry, it absorbs moisture to keep pretzels, crackers and chips moisture-free and fresh.
It’s made from food-safe fired clay, and is also available in cute gingerbread or maple leaf shapes if a teddy bear isn’t your style. The tiny tool is small enough to fit into the palm of your hand and slips easily into a jar or bag of sugar.
Specs:
- Made from wood-fired clay
- Weight: 2.08 ounces
- Dimensions: 2.63-by-2-by-0.5 inches
- Can be cleaned with water though soap isn’t recommended because it can leave behind hints of fragrance.)
How to Use a Brown Sugar Bear
How you prepare the bear depends on how you’re using it. If you want to add moisture to keep brown sugar, cookies or cakes fresh and moist, soak the bear in water for 20 minutes. Then, pat dry and then place it inside an airtight storage container.
If you’re looking to absorb moisture in foods like salt, spices, crackers and pretzels, simply place the bear into the package, no preparation necessary.
The clay bear provides moisture for up to six months. When the sugar begins to harden, simply soak the bear in water and place it back again.
One TikTok user, @BeccaTriesStuff, posted a video using her Brown Sugar Bear. After only one hour, the jar of brown sugar was smooth and soft. She even called it “the sugar bear that should be sweeping the internet.”
@beccatriesstuff The sugar bear that should be sweeping the internet #brownsugarbear #amazonfinds #kitchengadgets
The Best Amazon User Reviews
With an average of 4.5 stars on Amazon, users are impressed with how well the Brown Sugar Bear works, and how quickly.
“I dunked this little bear into a cup of water and after waiting the noted amount of time I tossed it into a Ziploc bag filled with hardened brown sugar,” writes verified Amazon purchaser J. Robbins. “It started off as a hard as a rock and was unusable. By the next day, most of the brown sugar was soft. I moved the little bear to be closer to the remaining brown sugar that was still hard like a rock. The following day I had a big bag of lovely, SOFT brown sugar, ready to make cookies again.”
Some Amazon reviewers have found that the bear has far more uses than advertised.
“I keep soft treats in a jar for my two little dogs. I was hoping the Brown Sugar Bear would keep them soft,” writes verified Amazon purchaser Cynthia Carey. “Well, it does. It’s been a solid week and they are just as soft as when I put them in the jar. I’m thinking now of what else I can use them for!”
Where to Buy the Brown Sugar Bear
This sugar softener is available on Amazon, as well as at Bed Bath & Beyond (where you could snag it for $4.79 if you’re a Beyond+ member) and Williams Sonoma. On Amazon, you have the option of purchasing a single bear or sets of two or three. It’s the perfect gift topper for the baker in your life!
Originally Published: May 11, 2022
