The present invention provides a method for storing a raw material inside a mold or a crucible, comprising the steps of: closing an opening of the mold filled with the raw material of a sintered metal or an opening of the crucible filled with the raw material for encouraging growth of a crystal for a semiconductor of a gallium arsenide crystal and a silicon single crystal or a polycrystalline silicon by a cap provided with a supply pipe and a vacuum evacuation pipe; vacuuming the inside the mold or crucible to a high vacuum state of 10−4 torr or less via the vacuum evacuation pipe; drying by heating the raw material in the mold or crucible filled with a heated inert gas in the range of 50 C. to 200 C. via the supply pipe; and storing the raw material in the mold or the crucible covered with the cap.