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Hi All!

This is my first post on the forum...and boy do I need your help. I found bugs in the barley that I had stored in the pantry. After a little research, I found out that these nasty little critters not only affect barley, but whole wheat flour and cornmeal too! The websites suggested keeping grains in the fridge or freezer.

My question is...what grains do you all store in the fridge or freezer besides barley? I like to buy in bulk, frankly because I am a student and it is a lot cheaper. I don't want to lose any more grain to bugs!

I have a tiny freezer. So if there are just a few little ones, I shift my grain in a collendar. Then I rinse it well. Then cook it. Actually I feel there are probably more creepies in things we buy ready done.
Now, when I found webs,and tons in a SEALED not out dated bag, I just had to throw it out.

I always keep my brown rice and whole wheat flour in the freezer. That way even if there are bugs in them, the little critters will freeze and hopefully I won't even know they were in there....lol.

I don't have room in my freezer for all my grains. But, after an infestation of pantry moths last summer (nasty little critters), I now keep all of my grains in sealed canisters. The ones i use are hard plastic with sealing lids, but until I found these at a discount store, my plan had been to use mason jars that work quite well, too. Or, if you can find food grade plastic storage containers with sealing lids, those will work, too. I bought a largish one of those as a restaurant supply store and use it to keep my big bag of oatmeal (I buy in bulk, too) and other little bags of this and that.

Sharon

I keep all grains, seeds and flour in the freezer.

I keep my grains and beans in big white buckets with tight fitting lids and only take out what I need, then immediately close the lids.
So far, never had any bugs etc.

I recall hearing that if you keep bay leaves in your flour it will repel bugs. I used to do that, and never had bugs. But, then I didn't have them before either.

I don't keep grains in the freezer. No room. I just wash them before I cook. If I get a real infestation, I toss the stuff, but that doesn't happen often. I keep most grains and flours in Tupperware. The big bag of rice just sits there in the kitchen. I rinse it and cook it.

I am sorry to tell you that you probably do have bugs in your grains. They might be bug eggs or so small you cannot see them. Keeping them cold and dry will prevent them from growing. Usually with bugs, someone will say--I was storing grains and bugs got into them. When what probably happened is the bugs were already inside and got out and infested other grains in your pantry. Which is why I always keep them in the fridge or freezer.

Didi

I keep all my whole grains and whole grain flours in the freezer. I keep my besan (chickpea flour) in the freezer. I keep my cornmeal in the freezer. I keep my nuts and seeds in the freezer. I have a large upright freezer, though.

Well I do both and neither. I had pantry moths a few years ago and I started putting my dry goods - rice, beans, any flours, etc. in the freezer for a few days and then storing them normally in the pantry. No problems since then except the occaisional mouse for things not in hard plastic containers. Just a few days in the freezer solved the problem for me.

Another classic storage solution is recycled one-gallon glass jars with metal screw-top lids. They are not as common as they used to be -- plastic is taking over -- but they still sometimes sell pickles and stuff like that in them. Growing up my family always had a shelf somewhere with all the grains stored in those jars. It won't keep bugs from multiplying in already-infested grain like the freezer will, but it will contain the problem and prevent bugs from getting into un-infested grain.