High surface area inorganic oxides find applications as absorbants, fillers, supports, reinforcing agents, and thermal, electrical, and photonic insulators. Supercritical drying, the removal of liquid from the gel pores by heating beyond the critical temperature and pressure of the liquid, is usually a required process step in the production of xerogels based on these materials. Here, an alternative method, not requiring supercritical drying, is presented.