How does food get wet and turn back

After food becomes damp, it can be restored to a dry state through methods such as drying, heating and dehumidification, and sealed storage. Food moisture is mainly related to factors such as damp storage environment, damaged packaging, and prolonged storage time.

1. Drying treatment

Lay damp food flat in a dry and ventilated place to air dry naturally, or use food desiccants to absorb moisture. Granular foods such as rice and nuts can be spread out and dried, while cookies can be placed in a cool and shady place to air dry. Avoid direct sunlight that can cause nutrient loss or spoilage.

2. Heating and dehumidification

Low temperature baking in an oven is an effective method for handling damp food. Setting the temperature to 50-60 degrees Celsius and baking for 10-15 minutes can remove moisture. Puffed foods such as bread and potato chips can be heated in a microwave for a short period of time, and attention should be paid to controlling the time to prevent burning. Tea leaves, dried mushrooms, etc. can be steamed in water for 5 minutes and then air dried.

3. Sealed storage

Use a vacuum sealing machine to remove the air inside the packaging, or place it in a sealed container and add a moisture-proof agent. Moisturized powdered foods such as milk powder and coffee powder need to be sieved before sealing. Dried products such as seaweed and seaweed can be stored together with food desiccants. Sealed and placed in a cool and dry environment can extend the shelf life.

4. Secondary processing

Some damp foods can be reused through cooking methods. Damp noodles can be boiled and cold mixed, softened cookies can be crushed to make dessert base, and damp grains can be ground into flour to make noodles. Ensure that the food is not moldy and heated thoroughly to avoid microbial contamination.

5. Preventive measures

When storing, choose a container with good sealing and built-in silicone desiccant or food deoxidizer. Grain and oil products are recommended to be divided into small portions to avoid repeated opening and closing and exposure to air. During the rainy season, a dehumidifier can be used to control the environmental humidity below 60% and regularly check the condition of food.

When storing food in daily life, attention should be paid to controlling the temperature and humidity of the environment, and it should be consumed as soon as possible after opening. It is recommended to package and freeze high moisture active foods such as grains and dried fruits. If food shows signs of spoilage such as mold and odor after being damp, it should be immediately discarded and not eaten. For high-value damp ingredients, professional food processing institutions can be consulted for dehydration treatment.