Can I reuse dessicant?
I was wondering if I could reuse dessicants from storebought goods. I throw a lot of dessicant packets in the bin from seaweed (dried). I also found some in packets of tortillas, but threw them in the bin.
Looking on google I see that you can do heaps of stuff with dessicants. Can I reuse them from food?
I want to reuse them for both in-food uses (like making tortillas and storing them with dessicant) and non-food (keeping jewellry fresh-looking). Thanks.
Best Answer
Desiccants eventually saturate with moisture, making them ineffective. This can be reversed, usually by heating the packs - various "recipes" for reheating are quoted, depending on the kind of desiccant pack; for those filled with silica gel temperatures of around 130-140 degrees celsius in a well ventilated (eg slightly opened) oven (moist atmosphere does not help) seem to be common, with time dependent on the packet size.
Some types seem to have a color indicator built into the material to indicate when it is dry again, with others weighing the packets (they get heavier when having absorbed moisture) can help.
If food use is intended, be extra careful there are no plastic parts or coatings in the packet construction that you could melt or burn with oven heat.
Microwave based methods are sometimes mentioned, if you want to try them, make sure you are prepared to handle the situation safely in case one of the packet/s (the paper, not the silica gel inside) catches fire. Also, if the model of microwave is not allowed to run empty, add some food or other load (a mug of water might create too much steam inside).
Pictures about "Can I reuse dessicant?"
Quick Answer about "Can I reuse dessicant?"
What most people don't realize, however, is that desiccant packs can be reused. The life of these bags depends on the environment that they are exposed to, but most desiccant bags last between 1 and 3 years.How many times can you reuse desiccant?
The good news is that you can reuse these Silica Gel Crystals up to 500 times, and the procedure is quite simple.Can you reuse silica gel desiccant?
Reactivate and Reuse! After the silica gel absorbs moisture (up to 40 percent of its own weight), it loses its effectiveness. But there is a silver lining to this rain cloud: The beads can be reactivated and reused repeatedly.What can you do with old desiccant?
4 smart ways to reuse silica gel packets around the homeHow to recharge and reuse silica gel packets
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Jiyoung Kim, Steve Johnson, SHVETS production, cottonbro