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Storing Cookies in Humid Climates

by Mimi Cummins

If you live in a humid climate, or if it's just particularly humid right now in your area, you may have noticed that you're having a problem with storing your cookies. You're putting them in airtight containers at room temperature or in the refrigerator, and after a day or two they start to get overly moist, stick together, and fall apart. If they are iced, the icing may even soften and start to run or break down.

I have found two simple remedies to this problem.

Remedy 1: Silica Gel

You've probably seen those tiny little paper packets of something tucked into the packaging of new products. They often come in bottles of vitamins, new shoe boxes, and boxes containing electronic equipment. These packets contain silica gel, and they are made to absorb moisture. You can place these inside your air-tight container with your cookies, and that will solve your humidity problems. The packets reduce the moisture content of the container by about 40%, and some varieties are approved by the FDA for food use. The packets that contain white or orange silica gel are approved for food use, and those with blue silica gel are not. Although it's not recommended that you eat it (most packets say "Do Not Eat" on them), the white and orange silica gel is non-toxic and can be safely placed inside a container with food. You can save these up when you happen upon your them in your packaging.

Remedy 2: Wood

You can dry a small piece of wood in the oven at a low temperature until it's bone dry, then put it in your container and seal it. The wood will absorb the available moisture in the container.