I just received an email from our reader, Mary. She needs your help with food preservation:
I have been building up my stock of items over the last year and a half. We had a catastrophe happen. We had a bag of basamati rice that evidently had worms in it. We didn’t realize it and put it in the pantry with the rest of the stock. We have lost about 50% of our food stock. Do you have any suggestions on protecting from this happening again?
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I had a problem like that a while ago, it was weevils though and not worms. I personally just check everything constantly and empty out old dry goods pretty regularly. Since there are particularly nasty molds that grow only in old (over a year) dry goods I do it anyway. Always cover food even if its w/ its own bag and a clip (binder clips are really good for that). I also put lavender in my cupboards after I clean them, I guess ants, spiders and other creepies don’t like the smell. Very sorry to hear you had that problem, I know how that feels. 🙁
I keep all sugars, flours, rice, oatmeals, etc. in either plastic containers or ziploc bags after having a bout with weevels (sp). I tend to buy a lot of it in bulk so I only have what I will use.
I have quite a bit of my stockpile in my garage. I keep an upright freezer, plugged in so the light works but not turned on, in the garage and all my boxed foods are in there. My mom used to have a bay leaf or two in her pantry shelves to keep away the bugs.
I remember at the old Tupperware parties, our Hostess taught us to always freeze grains and pastas for 36 hours to kill any larvae in the product.
Larvae are unavoidable so I have used this method for years in Arizona and Washington with great success.
I hope you can replenish your stockpile soon.
Freezing grains etc, does work really well, as does sealing items in ziplock bags (as everyone else has mentioned!).
Wanted to let you all know (esp. Mary!!) that Eversave (yet another daily deal site) is currently running a half off deal for the Lock and Lock website (click on the Holiday Shopping Deals button on the upper right hand side of the page). They sell airtight plastic (and GLASS!) storage containers. This is what I use to store my grains in my pantry and freezer and they work really, really well! And yes, they really are airtight/leak proof! The Eversave deal is good for the next five days – but the Lock and Lock deal tends to sell out quickly.
Here is my link: http://eversave.com/share/glA7
Or you can just sign up at Eversave.com
Good luck, Mary!! : )
I like the Lock and Lock products, too!
I buy the sets at JC Penney when they have them on sale. They sell sets quite often for 1/2 price – $19.99. Then I use a 20% off coupon or a $15 off $15 coupon that they send me.
Unfortunately many items may have “critters” inside the product just waiting in the “wings”. The FDA has a SCARY allowable list for food producers – http://www.fda.gov/food/guidancecomplianceregulatoryinformation/guidancedocuments/sanitation/ucm056174.htm. Check it out if you never want to eat again! 🙁
Eradication
Although not seen when groceries are purchased, some products have the possibility of being infested prior to being placed in the pantry. A periodical check of susceptible foodstuffs is necessary, especially in summer months when most insects are more active. In the event that an infestation is discovered, steps must be taken to eradicate the insects. Controlling an infestation is a lengthy process and insects may still be seen, albeit in dwindling numbers, for several weeks. All infested items, as well as noninfested items, must be removed from shelves, thoroughly cleaned and vacuumed. After vacuuming, the waste containing the infested material must be removed and discarded. Items should be checked for beetles, larvae, and pupa; it must be ensured that all food items are inspected as well, and special attention must be paid to items that have been rarely used. The infested items may either be discarded, heated or frozen to kill the insects. If the food is chosen to be discarded, the item must be completely removed from surrounding premises in order to prevent reinfestation. Freezing products for three to four days or heating them to about 130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 40 minutes will rid the product of the pests. Decorative ornaments and objects made with plant material and seed located in the vicinity of stored products will increase the risk of reinfestation: insects can feed on those items until they locate stored products. These items should also be thrown out or eradicated by freezing or heating. Cleaning the area where the infested products were found is advisable, as well. Cleaning with bleach or ammonia, however, will not help with the eradication of the pests. Using a vacuum cleaner to clean the area thoroughly, especially in cracks and corners where insects may hide, will decrease the chances of reinfestation. Because food will be stored in that area again, pesticides are not a good method of eradication. Pesticides can leave a residue that can contaminate food products stored near it. Also, once a pest is inside the container, the pesticides have no effect. If the infestation is so severe that pesticides are the only way to contain the problem, a professional should be contacted immediately. Do not try to apply pesticides to any area where food is stored for human or animal consumption. Contamination can occur and cause illness or more severe conditions. Proper storage and cleanliness are the only ways to prevent an infestation from occurring. Sanitation is the key to prevention and eradication of any pests.
I feel very bad for Mary, & must confess that the stories from the ladies above about their own experiences make me want to go home and throw out all my rice and grain products… How common are occurances of having bugs/worms in products???
In Africa these little worms are like “berries” for their food. Last time my mom was in Uganda she saw a few boys picking up termites and eating them. She stopped to ask what they tasted like and they told her they tasted like the little blue flies. 🙂 For picky American’s I would suggest the freezer or a little food grade diatomaceous earth mixed in grains will kill any critters.
We keep flour, sugar, rice, beans, etc. in clear plastic bins from Cash and Carry. They are great! The lids fit tightly and the square shape makes them easy to stack in the corner of the pantry. Works well for us since we generally buy large quantities in bulk. I haven’t had any issues since we started doing this but had a fairly major problem a while back with the moths. It took ages to get rid of them.
If I buy large amounts of rice I put it in a 5 gallon plastic ice cream container with a small chunk of dry ice and put the lid on. It sorta seals the container and kills anything in there – bugs, larvae, etc. I never leave rice in the original packing and my freezers are too full for anything but flour. I get the dry ice at the grocery store and a small chunk is less than a $1.00. I agree with Susan about repackaging and storing anything not in glass or metal.
i picked up a pile of tupperware from a garage sale. . .the canisters are great for rice. . .Because of the tupperware, the bugs, etc. . .don’t know that I have any food in the garage. (that is where my pantry is) ebay should have the canister sets for a good deal, especially if you buy them used!!
Oh, NO!!! So sorry to hear all this. I have to say I have been extremely lucky in my 30 years of couponing not to have any kind of infestation.
The closest I ever came to one was when I got up one morning (years ago) and found a line of ants from my front door all the way to my pantry! Got rid of them and haven’t ever had another problem.
I buy a lot of bulk- including oatmeal and put everything in plastic containers. I also keep grains and boxed items off the floor of the pantry. Don’t want to encourage easy access by any kind of rodent or bug!! 🙂
I’ve read that you should freeze flour, etc for at least a day then you can take it out of the freezer to store. It just kills any bugs, larvae, etc.
NEVER store bagged or boxed food products in your garage! Smorgasbord for rodents!! That includes pet food- keep it in a sealed container. If you buy a lot – a small garbage can will do. I keep my cat food in one of those plastic, round cans with a snap-on lid.
I just threw out all my rice too. I’m not sure where it came from but it all went and the problem solved itself. I didn’t like that I had to throw out that much rice but it was worth it. I have not seen any problem since. Now I only buy in bulk and put it right in a glass jar that will be used within a few weeks time. I like the freezer idea but I don’t have much room in mine. Space is a premium but will keep that in mind if I have a reoccuring problem.
I live in an area that is prone to pantry moths. This is what I know: The pantry moth taps that are sold at home depot work. Also I now keep my rice and grains in the freezer. And I put any opened wheat product, (exp. crackers and chips) in a sealed ziploc bag and if they will sit to long they go in the freezer as well.
That is what I do but for large stock piles that may not be realistic.
I’m so glad I read this! We started noticing little moths hanging out in our kitchen about a month ago. Then we started seeing little worms!(Yuck!) Now I know that they’re pantry moths and I will be buying traps and cleaning my cupboards this weekend.
I get pantry moths as well. We have now figured out what they like and what they don’t like, and what they can chew through. We invested in some really good sealing buckets for the grains, rices, flour, etc. and anything vulnerable gets stored in those. The traps are also a good idea; I hadn’t heard of those.
Ohh noooo..i was going to ask the same question because i just found out that we have carpet bettles in my pantry!!…Does anyone know how to get rid of them?..please help!!!