[NoahKAndrews]

If they're not getting hydrated slowly, they're not serving any purpose. The whole point is that water goes into them instead of whatever you're trying to keep dry.

[mrob]

If you're keeping them on hand for drying electronics in emergencies then you need to store them somewhere airtight.

[filoleg]

I think the grandparent comment meant keeping unhydrated during storage (for future uses of emergency drying electronics), not while it is being actively used for its intended purpose.