Simple Ways to Prevent Salt from Absorbing Moisture

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Have you ever tried to shake out some salt, only to find that it’s all clumped up and won’t come out? This is a common problem, and it happens because salt absorbs moisture from the air. Luckily, you can prevent this from happening! With some additives and storage tricks, you can stop the salt from absorbing moisture. This keeps it fresh and clump-free so it’ll pour out easily every time.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Things to Add

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  1. This is the most common trick for keeping salt dry, and you’ve probably seen it at restaurants. The rice absorbs moisture and prevents the salt from getting wet. Scoop 1 tsp (4 g) of dry rice into a standard salt shaker and shake it up to mix the rice around. [1]
    • Any rice will work, but long grain is best. This won't fall through the holes when you pour the salt.
    • If your salt has already gotten damp and clumpy, adding rice could help rescue it too.
  2. Plain, dry coffee beans also soak up moisture, so they’re a good substitute for rice. Scoop some coffee beans into the salt shaker or container and mix it around to spread the beans out. [2]
    • Coffee beans might add a slight aroma, but they shouldn’t affect the taste of the salt.
    • You need whole, unground coffee beans for this trick. Coffee grinds won’t work.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Prevent Salt from Absorbing Moisture
    If you’re concerned that coffee beans might give off a taste or smell, then dry kidney beans are your best bet. These have no taste or odor for the salt to absorb. Add a small scoop of dry beans to your salt container and mix them around to prevent clumping. [3]
    • White or red kidney beans will work the same way.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Prevent Salt from Absorbing Moisture
    These 2 ingredients will also absorb moisture, but they’ll also give off an aroma and could affect the salt’s taste. If you want some more flavorful salt, then pick one of these. Chop up some parsley or cloves and fill up the bottom 1/4 of the salt container. Then add the salt and mix everything up. [4]
    • Keep the pieces of clove or parsley a little bigger so they don’t fit through the salt shaker holes.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Prevent Salt from Absorbing Moisture
    Soda crackers are plain biscuits that can absorb moisture. Dip a cracker into your salt container and cover it with salt. Change the cracker every 10-15 days so the salt stays fresh and dry. [5]
    • This isn’t a long-term solution since you’ll have to change the cracker regularly, so try another solution if you prefer a more hands-off remedy.
    J. Kenji López-Alt, Chef and Food Science Writer

    Salt's hygroscopic nature causes it to readily absorb water molecules from the air. To keep salt free-flowing, store it in an airtight container not exposed to air. Adding a few grains of rice to the salt container can help absorb ambient moisture. Use coarse grain salt rather than fine grain, which clumps more easily when damp.

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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Proper Storage

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Prevent Salt from Absorbing Moisture
    Air is the major enemy if you need to keep your salt dry. Put the salt into a glass container with a sealable lid, and keep the lid closed whenever you’re not using it. [6]
    • Metal containers could rust, so you definitely don’t want to use these for salt.
    • Some people recommend a plastic container for humid environments, but others say that this could infuse chemicals into the salt. [7] [8] If you’re worried about this, stick with glass.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Prevent Salt from Absorbing Moisture
    A normal pantry or kitchen cabinet will work. As long as the salt isn’t in direct sunlight and the temperature is as low as possible, your salt shouldn’t clump together. [9]
    • If you live in a very humid climate, then you might not be able to find a dry place in your home. In this case, just be extra sure to seal the salt tightly in a container and add a drying ingredient like rice.
  3. Heat can cause condensation and make your salt clumpy. Leave the salt far away from your stove or oven so it stays cool all the time. [10]
    • There are also a lot of smells around your oven, and the salt could absorb these if it's too close.
    • If you have a cabinet near your stove, you could leave the salt in there so it's sealed away, but easy to reach while you're cooking.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Prevent Salt from Absorbing Moisture
    Unopened salt shakers are usually pretty good at keeping salt dry, but you can add an extra layer of protection. Put the shaker into a plastic container with a sealable lid. Keep this container sealed until you’re ready to use the salt. [11]
    • This also works if you use a salt shaker with un-sealable holes. Putting the shaker into a plastic container when you’re not using it helps keep the salt dry.
    • You can store multiple salt shakers in the same container if you buy salt in bulk.
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      Tips

      • Even if your salt clumps together, that doesn't mean it's bad. You can break up the clumps with a fork and store the salt more carefully so it doesn't absorb any moisture. [12]
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      • Keeping the salt stored properly is important to prevent it from absorbing smells too.
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      • Stored properly, salt should last for years.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.mashed.com/237513/heres-why-restaurants-put-rice-in-salt/
      2. ↑ https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/7-genius-tricks-to-prevent-salt-from-clumping-and-becoming-damp-1718414
      3. ↑ https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/7-genius-tricks-to-prevent-salt-from-clumping-and-becoming-damp-1718414
      4. ↑ https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/7-genius-tricks-to-prevent-salt-from-clumping-and-becoming-damp-1718414
      5. ↑ https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/7-genius-tricks-to-prevent-salt-from-clumping-and-becoming-damp-1718414
      6. ↑ https://basicfoodprepper.com/how-to-store-salt-long-term/
      7. ↑ https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2001-05-20-0105190305-story.html
      8. ↑ https://basicfoodprepper.com/how-to-store-salt-long-term/
      9. ↑ https://basicfoodprepper.com/how-to-store-salt-long-term/
      1. ↑ https://www.budgetsavvydiva.com/2013/11/remove-moisture-salt-shaker/
      2. ↑ https://theprovidentprepper.org/salt-why-it-is-essential-and-how-to-store-it-right/
      3. ↑ https://www.doesitgobad.com/does-salt-go-bad/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To keep salt from getting damp and clumpy in the shaker, try adding a few grains of raw, long-grain rice. The rice will absorb humidity and moisture before it has a chance to soak into your salt. Dry coffee beans will also work, but you’ll need to use whole beans rather than ground coffee. If you’re worried that coffee beans will affect the taste of your salt, use dry kidney beans instead. For a boost of flavor, try mixing your salt with dried parsley or cloves, which will also work to keep moisture at bay. If you don’t have anything else handy, you can put a soda cracker in the bottom of your saltshaker. You’ll need to change out the cracker every 10-15 days. For tips on how to store salt properly so it stays dry, keep reading!

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