Calcium hydroxide

high hazard

Also: slaked lime, hydrated lime, pickling lime, cal

FoodPreserveGarden

The old name is slaked lime. Food-grade lime waters eggs (water glassing), nixtamalizes corn, and raises pH. It is alkaline enough to burn skin and eyes. The wrong bag (builder’s lime) does not go in food.

Shelf life: Indefinite if dry and sealed. It slowly turns to chalk (calcium carbonate) in air.
Container: Airtight, dry. Not a paper bag.
Grade: Food-grade pickling lime for eggs and nixtamal. Type-S mason lime is for mortar, not food.

What it does

▸Water-glassing clean, unwashed eggs in a 1:1 lime:water saturated solution (food grade)
▸Nixtamal / hominy for corn
▸Garden pH amendment (agricultural lime is usually carbonate, not hydroxide — know which you bought)

Store

▸Dry, sealed, labeled FOOD GRADE or MASONRY — never mixed.

Hazards

▸Caustic dust. Can blind. Splash goggles, not glasses.
▸Do not confuse with calcium hypochlorite (pool shock) or quicklime (CaO), which is hotter and more dangerous.

Never mix

Household bleach Calcium hypochlorite White vinegar Citric acid

Gear

Splash goggles · Gloves · P100 for dust

In the field

Water glassing is for fresh, unwashed eggs with the bloom intact. Use a tested recipe from a current extension service, keep the crock cool, and discard any cracked eggs. This is preservation, not magic — sniff and look before you cook.

Source

Mrs. Wages pickling lime or equivalent food grade. Masonry lime stays in the shop.