Have you thought about stockpiling sugar?

[susysnshn]

I read a lot of the stuff on MSN, and one writer was predicting an increase in the price of food due to the cost of sugar. It seems there was a poor harvest this year. Sugar is used in so many foods that he predicted not only a price rise, but also a shortage.

This was three weeks ago so every week I have picked up two extra bags. I did notice that the Domino stock seemed to be going down at Walmart. Yesterday I noticed that the price for both Domino and Walmart brands had jumped 30 cents, which is 10%. So the writer seems to be on target.

I've just ordered those Domino coupons that came out a couple of weeks ago and will stockpile more. My grocery stores double. I have a freezer that is never full (we are actually trying to eat all of it so I can defrost it) so that's the perfect place to store it.

My hubby HAS to have sugar in his coffee, sugar in his cereal, and so on. Plus, there's Christmas baking to consider.

I just wanted to give everyone a head's up. This was only the first price increase (10%).

[TheWoman]

You don't need to store your sugar in the freezer. In fact, taking it in and out of the freezer will make it likely to clump. Simply put it in a bug proof dry container and seal. Don't put the container directly on a concrete floor. It will keep for many, many years that way.

[Coinpurse]

Having lived through through the sugar shortage during canning season in the mid '70s, I never have less than 200# on hand AND I'm a diabetic. :sad: But, I'm also the family baker, jelly, jams, canned fruit, pickles, relishes and candy maker so it's a necessity.

Any time it's cheap or free (Meijer does a freebie wyb Kool Aid at least once a year and we always have a stack of Kool Aid coupons to make it an even sweeter deal) I get as many additional packages as I can. I prefer cane sugar for candies and simple syrups but beet sugar is fine for other stuff. The Woman is right - do NOT put it in your freezer, you'll ruin it. Dry & ant proof is all you need. It may get lumps in dry storage but they're not rock hard and easily crumbled with a light touch. In my experience, beet tends to go lumpy more quickly than cane.

[XUfan]

I heard the same reports a few weeks ago, and have been picking up some extra when I've gone into Aldi's lately. It's still fairly cheap there. We don't go through a lot of sugar, but I want to have it around for holiday baking.

Before I started couponing and stockpiling, I would hear those reports and think, "wow...I hope the prices don't go too high." NOW....I hear those reports and think, "Where can I make more room for sugar!!"

[scissorbill]

[QUOTE= In my experience, beet tends to go lumpy more quickly than cane.[/QUOTE]

How do you know whether it's beet or cane?

[TheWoman]

Originally Posted by scissorbill How do you know whether it's beet or cane?

Some brands advertise that they are 100% cane sugar. I guess I don't make enough candy because I couldn't tell you the difference if it weren't on the bag.

[Coinpurse]

Pure cane sugar will say so on the label. Beet or mixed cane & beet frequently isn't tagged as such. Cane is more expensive per pound than beet. You haven't saved a cent, though, if you have to toss a pot of boiling sugar that suddenly went grainy or scorched before it reached the correct sheeting, balling or crack stage. Cane sugar provides a consistent level of sweetness & workability. Beet or mixed does not and the differences are quite pronounced when the main ingredient (like in candies) is sugar. I was going to explain in more detail why I prefer cane to beet but I found an article that spells out some of the quality issues quite well:

SUGAR, SUGAR / Cane and beet share the same chemistry but act differently in the kitchen

[Merczilla]

I asked Fred Meyers once about their brand of sugar if it was beet or cane. The reply was "depends on who our supplier is at the time". The bags are not marked. I stick with C&H. Don't find Dominos much around here. If it doesn't say cane, I don't buy it.

[Apennysaved]

Sugar the new oil as prices soar | Business | The Guardian

For those of you who shop at Wegmans.....

Wegmans brands limit 2 of each with shoppers club card.

regular sugar $1.99 5lb
brown sugar .99 2lb
powder sugar .99 2lb
flour .99 5lb

[queenofthehivemomof5]

For those that are stockpiling sugar...remember it does not go bad. It will not spoil. You need to keep it away from bugs and it is best to keep it somewhere that it will stay dry. But if it gets moist and clumps up it is still edible.

I usually buy my sugar by the 25Lb bag whenever those go on sale and I get 4-5 at a time. Non sale price for a 25lb bag is usually around $10-11 and on sale $7-5