# Will silica gel eff up my cheap pots and pans?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-silica-gel-eff-up-my-cheap-pots-and-pans/113930>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 13, 2002, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-silica-gel-eff-up-my-cheap-pots-and-pans/113930 "2002-06-13T21:25:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-silica-gel-eff-up-my-cheap-pots-and-pans/113930/1 "2002-06-13T21:25:31Z")

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Here’s the deal: I’m packing up some kitchenware that’s going to sit in storage for two months. Most of it is cheap stainless steal pots and pans, but there will also be some ceramic dishes and two iron woks. I want to throw in some packets of silica gel to make sure the woks don’t rust, but I don’t want to open the box in two months to find gel packet-shaped corrosion spots or something equally terrible on my beloved wok – which will be inside a plastic bag so the oil I seasoned it with won’t get on the other stuff. Would it be okay to put a gel packet inside the bag with it too? Can I just sprinkle the box with a handful of gel packets?

My packing strategy depends on your help, Dopers! Don’t let me down! 🙂

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-silica-gel-eff-up-my-cheap-pots-and-pans/113930/2 "2002-06-14T04:49:02Z")

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Well, gee, unless your chosen storage space is really humid, like in a boathouse or something, I wouldn’t worry about the pots and pans rusting over only two months. If you’re worried about the iron woks, maybe just oil them?

[http://fantes.com/seasoning.htm](http://fantes.com/seasoning.htm)

> [@](#):
>
> Storing
> 
> If you don’t use steel and cast iron pans too often, spread a light coating of oil on the inside surface of the pan before storing it.
> 
> When steel and iron pans are to be out of use for a long time, oil heavily and store in a plastic bag to keep from rusting.

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**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-silica-gel-eff-up-my-cheap-pots-and-pans/113930/3 "2002-06-14T05:20:56Z")

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I’m not sure but why would you put the silica gel directly in the pot? It should be enough to put it in the same box or bag. Or if you really want it in the pot, you could wrap the silica gel with a cloth to prevent direct contact.