I have an off and on big deal ant problem....but they have never invaded a bag or a jar of white sugar. I would say you are safe just leaving it on the counter covered with saran.

Why Saran Wrap? On top of lid?

Back in the stone age, we did occasionally see an ant in the sugar, but it may have come that way from the mill for all I know. We started storing the sugar in "tin" canisters (I'm not sure the actual metal), inside plastic bags, as much to make sure that ants couldn't get out. I use pressure sealed air tight canisters now for all my grains and flours, so sugar too even though it doesn't actually need it. Your screw top jar should be fine if you already have it. If you don't, look at ClickClack and OXO canisters. Not only are they air tight, they're easy to open with one hand.

I put plastic wrap on my china sugar bowls.

The fridge is a terrible place to keep sugar as it is too damp. That is why your sugar went lumpy and hard.

I would expect the ants would have a hard time getting into that container.

My point was just a piece of plastic no need for special security. I have had tiny red ants get into a jelly jar with a screw on lid....just follow the threads into the jar....but never had ants in dry sugar.

My vote is for the pressure seal air tight containers. They may cost a bit more but as long as you don't drop them you can count on being able to use them for a long time.

I have had an occasional problem with ants. I keep my dried fruit in a screw top jar in my cabinet and don't have problems with ants-as long as I remember to actually put the lid on. Ants must have sent out party invitations the one time I didn't get the top on. I had only seen an single ant here & there before that episode and since, but there were ants EVERYWHERE when they found the fruit.

Make life simpler and easier. Get some desiccant packets (Amazon) to put inside the sugar jar.

dcarch

sugar stored in fridge would absorb moisture... lumps. i don't see why container in picture wouldn't be great. would definitely keep ants at bay but probably not totally air tight. i'm always on look-out for Tupperware canister sets at yard sales and thrift stores. as long as clean and a tight lid... they're best imo.

If you are talking about storing sugar that you will be using from day to day, I store mine on my counter in big glass apothecary type jar with a metal lid with a knob that just sets on top of it. For sugar that I am not putting out to use, I set the whole bag down in metal tins, like popcorn comes in or I do have a very large old metal lard can that I have put several bags down in. Those are not opened, just storing them till I need them. I have not had a problems with ants in any of them.

Sue

I bought a set of large, plain Tupperware storage containers years ago. One holds 5 pounds of flour plus so that when my flour is low, there is room for another whole 5 pounds on top of the remaining pound in the container. I have another large Tupperware container for 5 pounds of sugar. I have never had a bug problem. I also store the newly purchased flour in my freezer several days before pouring it into the Tupperware.

I will use my screw top and store in pantry. I do use Tupperware in main house and it works splendidly but I didn’t want to spend $$ for the east tx home,

I have several tall glass instant coffee jars from years ago. They are square column shaped so they fit nicely into my pantry and don't waste space. Two of them hold a 5 lb bag of sugar, and no ants get into them. I use these jars to store pasta, rice, nuts, beans etc.

I've never stored sugar anywhere other than my canister and the excess in it's bag with the top folded over. No ants in my sugar! I store some flower in my canister, but the rest is stored in the freezer. Millets can be a problem in kitchen cabinets. My canisters had pretty tight lids - no screw just pull off. they are stainless with glass lids - got them at Target about 14 years ago. Brown sugar is stored in a Tupperware container as it will harden if not kept air tight.