The presently disclosed devices and methods allow for preserving and restoring crispiness to snack food by placing a specific type of desiccant device in the original packaging of the food item and then closing up the package and securing the closure, even if not completely airtight. In some embodiments it may be desirable to position the desiccant away from direct contact with the food item. Prior to deployment, the individual desiccant device or pod can be activated by removing a moisture barrier strip or, alternatively, removing the device from an airtight individual package. One possible embodiment is to use magnetic material to enable the desiccant device to be held in place above the level of the product within a package by a magnetic material outside of the package.