Desiccant Or Liquefier? Pepper Corns Turning To Liquid

I recently go help from here regarding my onion and garlic powder turning to concrete. The desiccant sachets help with the caking tremendous;y (and I learned two new words - thank you everyone!) I've had a similar issue with my salt grinder and used the same, with the sachet sitting on top of the salt, which has worked, However, I thought I'd do the same with the pepper corns - bad move! When I took it out of the cupboard two days later, about 30% of the content had turned to liquid. Is it me or do pepper corns just not like whatever it is in those sachets? Thanks!

Kryztof
  • Posted by: Kryztof
  • December 29, 2024
  • 124 views
  • 4 Comments

4 Comments

Nancy December 30, 2024
Krtztof, hello.
Never heard of this.
And peppercorns are among the sturdiest and longest lasting spices.
I can only guess that some chemicals or elements in the desiccant and the pepper interacted to cause liquifaction.

I would throw this batch out as the desiccant packages are unsafe to eat.

And store peppercorns dry alone in air tight container (usually glass or metal), and away from heat and appliances.
Happy new year!
.
 
Kryztof December 30, 2024
Thanks Nancy, yes, very weird! The pepper corns don't really need a sachet anyway as I've only had problems with the salt. Have ditched them though just in case. HNY to you and everyone there too,
 
Kryztof December 31, 2024
Just FY,I found out what's wrong, I've been making sachets up using teabags that I empty out. I was told that DampRid (0-75919-00037-3) by W.M. Barr & Co., Inc. would do the trick. Nope. I thought it was strange as it looked more like soap flakes than crystals, I've just finished reading the label info. and the main ingredient is calcium chloride rather than silicon dioxide. Lesson learned!
 
Nancy December 31, 2024
Thanks for looking into this and the update
 
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