[Beth]

For some reason we sometimes get small pantry bugs, no matter how clean we keep things. Pasta and rice seemed to be their preferred “treat.” I’ve started keeping pasta and rice in my freezer…no more bugs and cooks up just fine!

Many people face the common problem of pantry bugs ruining their stored dry goods, especially items like pasta and rice. Some suggest that freezing these items can help prevent infestations by killing any eggs or larvae before they hatch.

Have you tried this method?

Does it work for you, or do you have other strategies for keeping your pantry bug-free? Share your experiences and tips!

[Shirley]

I don’t have the freezer space unfortunately to store dry goods long term.

One of the great hints is to ask for “food grade” pails at your local grocery store in the bakery department. They usually get frosting in them and throw them away.

They are great and come with covers and handles. They wash well, I take off the labels and store bags of flour, sugar, etc.

I’ve also stored things like bird seed and seeds I save from season to season. These stack well too.

[Lisa]

Freeze rice and flour as soon as you get it home. Freeze 24-48 hours before putting in tightly sealed containers or sealed bags.

I haven’t had any issues with pasta. The freezer has solved my problems.

[Mary]

They are coming in from the grocery store unfortunately. They lay eggs in dry goods like pasta, oatmeal, dry pet foods and such.

Freezer is the best way to keep them under control.

[Ay]

I think Bay leaves inside dry goods are supposed to help with pests.

[Deborah]

They don’t need to be stored in the freezer. Grains just need to be frozen for 72 hours which kills the larvae.

Get some pherenome traps for you pantry and that will kill the eggs that are impossible to find or otherwise eradicate.

[Nola]

when I was trying to solve a different type of bug problem I kept anything that wasn’t perfectly sealed or in a metal can in the fridge or freezer, even if it didn’t really need to be.

[Annie]

I started keeping my flour and dry pasta in mason jars. Seems to be working so far!

[Peg]

In addition to placing pantry pest traps in every food cupboard, all grain products are kept in the fridge and freezer.

Haven’t seen any of the disgusting critters in years

[Tesse]

Freeze for a week or so then they’ll be ok. Add a bay leaf to everything too

[Rachel]

Mason jars with metal screw on lids. They have a rubber gasket to keep bugs in or out. 1/2 gallon size works well for daily use items so they don’t need to be refilled as often.

[Lori]

What are those bugs anyway? Mine are like small brown tiny moths. I just cleaned out my pantry again

[Barbara]

I keep all my rice, pasta and dry mixes in plastic containers with tight lids. And I put bay leafs in the cabinet to keep the pests away.

[Kristel]

That’s what I do too. They come in the food.
If you freeze for a while it’ll kill them off.

I get them in dog dood

[Betsy]

Living in Florida, you learn to put everything in plastic bags and air tight containers or you will definitely have bugs.

[Elaine]

Don’t forget the breadcrumbs. I put my breadcrumbs still in the containers in a large ziplock bag. Did that once and a week later the ziplock was full of dead bugs.

They come in already infested from the grocery store.

Now anything not sealed in plastic or metal gets bagged or put in a tupperware style airtight container as soon as it enters my home.

[Laurel]

Bug eggs are left in all grains in the field where grown. To turn into bugs, they need heat/humidity/time. Freezing or refrigerating works(storage in a cooler basement).

Sealing out humidity with moisture absorbers and heavy plastic containers also works.

Rotating and using grains up within a year usually works(can be “iffy” in hot muggy areas like FL, TX.

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