How to dry and store seasonings in plastic bottles

With the improvement of living standards and people's attention to food safety, more and more families are choosing to purchase seasoning plastic bottle bottoms and seasonings. Plastic bottled seasoning has the characteristics of good sealing, easy storage, and durability, and is becoming increasingly popular among people. However, due to the high content of moisture and soluble components in seasonings, it is easy to cause plastic bottles to become moldy due to prolonged dampness, posing a health risk.

Therefore, it is crucial to properly dry and store seasoning plastic bottles. In this article, we will introduce how to effectively moisture-proof, dry, and store seasoning plastic bottles.

1、 How to choose a suitable plastic seasoning bottle

Before starting drying and preservation, it is necessary to first select a suitable seasoning plastic bottle. In general, it is better to choose bottles with good quality and strong sealing performance. Some typical plastic materials, such as HDPE (high-density polyethylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and PP (polypropylene), are common seasoning plastic bottle materials. Among them, HDPE bottles have good chemical corrosion resistance, PET bottles can effectively maintain the aroma and seasoning effect of the dense substances inside the bottles, and PP bottles are more durable than other materials.

In addition, plastic bottles with larger mouth and easy to clean should also be selected, which is conducive to the drying and ventilation of the interior of the seasoning plastic bottles. When purchasing, attention should also be paid to factors such as smooth inner walls without burrs, good sealing, and high bottle strength.

2、 Drying method

There are many methods for drying seasoning plastic bottles, such as sun exposure, drying, and using desiccants. Let's introduce them one by one.

1. Sun exposure method

This is the most common drying method. Place the seasoning plastic bottle in a sunny area to evaporate the moisture inside. This method is simple and convenient, and can kill microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses to prevent mold. The duration of exposure to sunlight generally depends on the weather and moisture content. In hot weather, it usually takes about 10 minutes to complete drying.

2. Drying method

The drying method uses a heat source to evaporate the moisture inside the plastic bottles of condiments, and is a relatively fast and effective drying method. This method requires the use of heat sources such as electric heating or solar energy. Place the seasoning plastic bottle in a container with a ventilation opening for drying, while ensuring that there is no residue inside the bottle. This method usually takes about half an hour to an hour.

3. Desiccant method

The desiccant method is a popular drying method that uses substances with good moisture absorption, such as activated carbon, quicklime, etc., as desiccants. They are placed in plastic bottles for moisture absorption to prevent moisture from breeding bacteria and causing mold and deterioration. The choice of desiccant used should be based on different seasonings, as different desiccants may cause different chemical reactions to different seasonings.

Regardless of the drying method used, plastic seasoning bottles should be placed in a ventilated, cool, and dry environment to avoid direct exposure to ultraviolet light.

3、 The use of redox agents

In addition to the above drying methods, oxidation-reduction agents (such as bleaching powder) can also be used to dry plastic bottles for seasoning. When the plastic bottle is noticeably damp, some redox agent can be placed at the bottle mouth seal and the bottle can be stored upside down. This can enable the active components in the redox agent to absorb water, causing them to lose their water absorption and achieve the goal of drying.

However, due to the corrosiveness of the oxidant itself, care should be taken when using it, and be careful not to directly contact the seasoning inside the plastic bottle of the seasoning.

4、 When to replace plastic seasoning bottles

Even if seasoning plastic bottles are dried and stored for a long time, there is still a certain probability of mold formation. Usually, if mold has already formed, it means that the seasoning plastic bottle needs to be replaced.

In addition, if there are cracks on the surface of plastic seasoning bottles or if other seasonings are not suitable for mixing, the bottles should also be replaced in a timely manner. Generally speaking, it is recommended to replace all existing plastic bottles every six months to one year to avoid potential hazards.

The dry storage of seasoning plastic bottles is directly related to the health and safety of food. Therefore, when using seasoning plastic bottles, attention should be paid to selecting high-quality plastic bottles, adopting appropriate drying methods, and regularly replacing bottles. I hope this article can provide some help for everyone to dry and preserve plastic bottles of seasonings, ensuring a healthy diet for each of our families.