How to Determine the Moisture Content of Food

In addition to liquids, food can be a significant source of water in your diet because of its natural moisture content. The moisture content or water content of food varies from the water-logged (such as cucumbers) to the bone dry (such as grain flours). Although there are a variety of ways to determine the moisture content of food, the quickest way (if you have a scale and a computer), is to weigh the food and check the moisture content using the USDA's National Nutrient Database For Standard Reference.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Scale that measures in grams
• Food

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Instructions

• 1

  Measure food with a gram scale.

  Weigh the food of your choice on a gram scale. Record this number.

• 2

  The USDA hosts a National Nutrient Database online.

  Go to the USDA's National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference and search for the food you have chosen. Choose the item or something closest to the food you have chosen (some foods may not be available).

• 3

  Select the measurement of the food item that is closest to the measurement you took earlier or adjust the amount of a given measurement to make it equal your measurement. Pick 100 grams and adjust the amount to the hundredth decimal place to get your food's weight if needed (for example, 1.05 in the amount box would result in 105 grams by weight for the analysis).

• 4

  Record the water content in grams as listed in the USDA analysis.

• 5

  Repeat for any other foods for which you want to determine the moisture content.