What property makes sugar and spices attract and absorb surrounding moisture in dry storage?

Answer

hygroscopic

Certain dry ingredients, specifically named as sugar and spices, possess the characteristic of being hygroscopic. This means they have a strong affinity for water vapor present in the surrounding atmosphere, readily attracting and absorbing this moisture. When sugar or spices absorb too much environmental moisture, it leads to undesirable physical changes, such as caking, where the fine particles clump together into hard masses. More critically, the introduction of water content creates an environment where bacterial contamination becomes possible, necessitating careful moisture control during storage. This characteristic directly informs standard storage practices, such as ensuring they are kept in tightly sealed containers away from high humidity areas.

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food storage