Muscovado sugar is prone to drying out, forming indestructible lumps that defy melting and can leave little lumps in your cake batter. Soften brown sugar in the microwave in a burst of 15-20 seconds.

Icing sugar comes in different grades according to how finely the sugar is milled, denoted by the number of Xs on the packet. Icing sugar easily absorbs moisture and odours – keep in an airtight ...