How to Break Up Lumps in Stored Powdered Food

How to Break Up Lumps in Stored Powdered Food

If you've been storing powdered food for a while, it's not unusual for it to form lumps. These lumps can be frustrating and make the food difficult to measure. Fortunately, there are several simple strategies you can use to break them up and get your food back to its normal state.

Steps

• Inspect the lumps. If the lumps are small, you may be able to break them up just by pressing them between your fingers. Larger lumps won't respond to this method, and may require a more aggressive technique.
• Wet your hands. Before breaking up the lumps, wet your hands in warm water. This will prevent the powder from sticking to your skin and make it easier to break the lumps up.
• Sprinkle water on the lumps. Add a few drops or sprays of water to the lumps. This will help break them up and make them easier to handle.
• Use a potato masher. Press the lumps with a potato masher or similar utensil. This will break them up into much smaller pieces, which can then be handled.
• Sift the powder. If the lumps are still fairly large, you can sift them out of the powder using a fine mesh sieve or colander.
• Stir the powder. Once the lumps are gone, stir the powder to make sure it's completely mixed. This will help prevent more lumps from forming.

How to Break Up Lumps in Stored Powdered Food

When stored for long periods of time, powdered food products can form lumps. If not broken up, these lumps can be difficult to incorporate into recipes or measure accurately. Breaking up these lumps can help restore the original, powdery texture of the food and make it easier to use.

Instructions

1. Pour the powdered food into a large, shallow container.
2. Using the back of a spoon, press down on any lumps to help break them up.
3. For larger lumps, use a potato masher or fork to break them into smaller pieces.
4. When most of the lumps are gone, scrape the sides and bottom of the container with the back of a spoon.
5. Eliminate any remaining lumps by sifting the powder. To do this, place a fine mesh sieve over another bowl. Gently spoon the powder into the sieve, then press it through with the back of a spoon. Discard any remaining lumps.