Last year I really tried to cook. Perhaps my favorite discovery was Korean food, which was introduced to me by a close friend. Full of healthy foods such as kimchi, Korean cuisine has a variety of flavors. Trying to make my own Korean food, I ordered a box of organic gochujang (Korean red pepper flakes). As I approached the middle of the box, I realized to my horror that it was lumpy and nasty.
Silica gel pack application
It may not be immediately obvious to everyone, but your kitchen is often the wettest place in the house. When something is cooked or boiled, moisture is released into the air. This moisture can be good for any herbs you keep in your kitchen, but it’s a different story when it comes to dried spices. If you find lumps of spices and sugar, moisture is to blame.
So what can you do about it? The last thing you need to do is move your spice cabinet away from where you need it the most. This may come as a surprise to you, but one of the best ways is to use silica gel bags. Do you know those packages that say “DO NOT EAT”? These wrappers are my favorite way to keep seasonings from sticking together, and they’re also great for wrapping potatoes and other sprouting vegetables.
You can find these bags in everything from dried seaweed to shoes and bags. Like spices, silica gel prevents moisture from destroying these foods. But is there any reason to worry about silica gel?
Warning labels can be worrisome, but it’s good to know what silica gel is. Silica gel or silica is the same as sand. Think about what happens when you pour some water into a sandcastle. It absorbs the environment like silica gel. Warning signs exist because of the choking hazard for children. You won’t have to worry about getting sick because it’s non-toxic!
Instead of throwing them away, why not keep a few on hand? Just toss it in a jar or cover with a lid and it will transform your herbs and spices. If you find your backpacks becoming less efficient, you can bake some silicone in the oven (don’t forget to take it out of the paper packaging) and recharge!
In addition to being used in the kitchen, silica gel bags can be used for many things you use throughout the day.
Use in silica gel packs
Have you noticed that your Halloween figurine softens after a few days? Throw a flint or two at it and your neighbors will enjoy it for a long time!
Do you have a big bag of dry pet food? Stick the silicone bag on the side of the bag to make it last longer.
One thing I’ve been struggling with this winter is condensation on the windows of the house. Keep a packet of silica gel near a window. This will also work for foggy car windshields.