How Long Does Sugar Last?

How long does sugar last? Does sugar go bad? Does brown sugar go bad? The shelf life of sugar depends on the best before date and how the sugar is stored. Refined (white) sugar is actually a drug that accounts for the most common addiction in society today. It’s actually the only taste that we are born desiring. Sugar elevates the blood glucose level in the body and contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay… but it sure makes food hard to resist! So, does sugar go bad? When properly stored, the shelf life of sugar past its best before date is …

(Unopened/Opened)	Pantry
	Past Printed Date
Granulated White Sugar last for	Indefinitely
White Sugar Cubes last for	Indefinitely
Raw Sugar lasts for	Indefinitely
Brown Sugar lasts for	Indef, but Best within 2 Years
Powdered Sugar lasts for	Indef, but Best within 2 Years
Sugar Substitutes last for	Indefinite
Equal lasts for	Indef, but best within 2 Years
Sweet n Low lasts for	Indef, but best within 2 Years

But remember, sugar, like a lot of other baking products, may not have any printed expiration date or they may have a best before date, but not an expiration date. Because of this, you may safely use it for your baking needs after a best before date has lapsed.

How to tell if sugar is bad, rotten or spoiled?

Although sugars do not go completely bad the texture that will change over time, but it is generally still good. When brown sugar has been around awhile it will turn from a squeezable form into a hard lump, white sugar will turn from a loose powder to a solid form, powdered sugar will become lumpy and raw sugar will stick together and form a rock.
See below on how to re-shape each of these sugars.
Practicing proper hygiene and food safety discipline will help prevent food borne illness. If your sugar is unusable, check our substitution page for alternatives.

How to store sugar to extend its shelf life?

The best way to store sugar is in its original container in the pantry. When the bag is opened, it can be poured into another air tight container. While white Sugar lasts for a longer period of time if it is stored in a dry environment, Brown Sugar lasts for a longer period of time is it is stored in a humid (moist) environment. Proper food storage is the key to extending the expiration date of food.

How to soften sugar when hardened?

White sugar will become hard if it absorbs moisture, so to soften it again you can place it in a 150 degree oven for 15 minutes then break it up with a spoon, turn the oven off and leave it in the oven for another hour or two.
Brown sugar will become hard when it dries out and looses it’s moisture, so to soften it you can add a slice of fresh bread to the bag for a day or two or a damp paper towel separated by plastic wrap.
Powdered sugar will begin to form lumps when it has been around too long, this is because of the corn starch that is in the sugar and there is really nothing you can do except break up the lumps.
Raw sugar will become hard if it absorbs moisture, so to soften it again you can place it in on a tray in a 150 degree oven for 15- 30 minutes then break it up with a spoon. Be careful not to overheat the sugar or it will burn.

Interesting Facts about Sugar?

Sugar goes by many names on nutrition labels, generally they end in “ose” like these:
Glucose, Fructose, Galactose, Sucrose, Lactose, Maltose.

Since sugar is a preservative, it is used to most often used to preserve and extend the shelf life of fruits when making jams and jellies. It will even prolong the shelf life of fresh cut flowers when mixed in their water.

How long is sugar good for when prepared in a dish?

That depends. How long do eggs last? In general, sugar will be one of the last expiring ingredients in any dish. To find out how long other ingredients are good for, please visit the Dairy, Drinks, Fruits, Grains, Proteins, Vegetables and Other sections of Eat By Date or search below!

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What are our shelf life resources?

Our does sugar go bad content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and if sugar goes bad.

*An important note about expiration dates …

Although the how long does sugar last information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion. So, how long will food last? Let’s find out!