Guest guest Posted February 3, 2000 Report Share Posted February 3, 2000 With all this talk of bread machines I'd like to take the opportunity to remind you that pantry pests like to live in flour, cake mixes and spices in your pantry. FROM NOW ON I am going to package my flour in giant ziploc bags. Have just spent a hellish few days cleaning out my pantry and throwing out about $300 worth of products because of these visitors. I even found the bugs in the flaps of the lids in boxes where the unopened plastic bag was still uninvaded by the bugs. I have always put the flour in a ziploc in the freezer if it was a whole grain, but not plain ol' regular flour. That was an expensive lesson. Holly PS The packages that brought the bugs into the house were grocery store macaroni and bread flour. Neither of which were organic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 3, 2000 Report Share Posted February 3, 2000 I had to throw out a lot of whole grains, etc. not that long ago because of the same thing. I even had mine stored in glass jars and zip lock bags. I heard that to help prevent this is as soon as you bring grains/flours home, place it in the freezer for 3 days. This supposedly kills the eggs. I've started storing mine in the freezer. When I run out of room, I just take them out til I have room to put them back in. I wish I didn't have to do this but I lost $ too and thought this is the routine I'll have to be happy with. Cookwie wrote: > Cookwie > > With all this talk of bread machines I'd like to take the opportunity to > remind you that pantry pests like to live in flour, cake mixes and spices in > your pantry. FROM NOW ON I am going to package my flour in giant ziploc bags. > Have just spent a hellish few days cleaning out my pantry and throwing out > about $300 worth of products because of these visitors. > I even found the bugs in the flaps of the lids in boxes where the unopened > plastic bag was still uninvaded by the bugs. > I have always put the flour in a ziploc in the freezer if it was a whole > grain, but not plain ol' regular flour. That was an expensive lesson. > > Holly > > PS The packages that brought the bugs into the house were grocery store > macaroni and bread flour. Neither of which were organic. > > --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- > > GET A NEXTCARD VISA, in 30 seconds! Get rates as low as 2.9 percent > Intro or 9.9 percent Fixed APR and no hidden fees. Apply NOW! > <a href= " http://clickme./ad/NextcardCreative4 " >Click Here</a> > > ------ > > To post to list: " Veg-Recipes " > To contact List Owner: " Veg-Recipes-owner " > Subscribe or Un through ONElist site: > OR Un via e-mail: Veg-Recipes- > Calendar: http:///calendar/Veg-Recipes > Links: http:///links/Veg-Recipes > ********************************************************************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 3, 2000 Report Share Posted February 3, 2000 Yeah- that's my question... my rice boxes are half opn some times and I've nver had this problem...? Just lucky so far? P or T <p-pie on 02/03/2000 11:24:57 AM veg-recipes cc: (bcc: Jamie Orozco/SHI) Re: bread machines and flour and bugs P or T <p-pie i don't want to come across as really stupid, but what are these bugs? are they geographic specific? where are the people that have had them? i have a very messy cupboard and now am concerned about this but have never heard of it and have never seen anything - what do these bugs look like? thanks, Tara --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- To from this mailing list, or to change your subscription to digest, go to the ONElist web site, at and select the Member Center link from the menu bar on the left. ------ To post to list: " Veg-Recipes " To contact List Owner: " Veg-Recipes-owner " Subscribe or Un through ONElist site: OR Un via e-mail: Veg-Recipes- Calendar: http:///calendar/Veg-Recipes Links: http:///links/Veg-Recipes ********************************************************************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 3, 2000 Report Share Posted February 3, 2000 i don't want to come across as really stupid, but what are these bugs? are they geographic specific? where are the people that have had them? i have a very messy cupboard and now am concerned about this but have never heard of it and have never seen anything - what do these bugs look like? thanks, Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 4, 2000 Report Share Posted February 4, 2000 This happened to me about 9 years ago when I lived in an apartment. I opened up a package of oatmeal to make cookies and little things flew out. SO I cleaned out the whole cabinet and emptied out other flour products and a few days later I saw more of them. So I threw out everything and cleaned out the cabinets. I was killing these flying bugs for weeks after. Weeks later, I read an article in Vegetarian Times Magazine about organic & safe ways to exterminate. In it was an old wives tale (which works wonders!!!) - put a bay leaf in all packages with flour, grains, anything like that and put them in your cabinets too. Well, I did that, and still do it and can tell you, I haven't seen another since. I never freeze, except for whole grains, and have never seen another. Do it. Put bay leaves in everything. You won't be sorry and you'll never have to throw out money ever again!!! From experience, RisaG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 4, 2000 Report Share Posted February 4, 2000 Tara, the bugs I had were small flying bugs, about 1/4 " long, brown, with wings. The eggs were small and white. Stuck inside the flaps of packages, and also in the corners of my cabinets. Open up all your packages and make sure nothing flies out!! I think they are called grain weevils. That is what I had. It was terrible. Weeks of swatting bugs on my ceiling. It is time to clean out that pantry. Neaten, organize. It takes some time but it is worth it in the end. You'll find things quicker. My cabinets are fairly organized and I know where most stuff is. Yes, once in awhile I have trouble finding something but that is because it starts out in one spot and then I move it to another and forget (age does this to you!) So, please check your cabinets and make sure you don't have these doozy of a bug. If you do, clean out the cabinet, wash it well, throw out most stuff and make sure that you put a bay leaf (dried or fresh, doesn't matter) in every cabinet and package of grains & flours. RisaG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 10, 2000 Report Share Posted February 10, 2000 I have never found any bugs in my flour, but if I find flour or grains in my cupboard which I suspect are less than fresh, I make them up into bread or cake and then put it out to feed the birds in my garden. That way I feel that I haven't wasted it, and I'm helping the birds, especially in the winter. Dianne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.