How do you keep moths away from food?!
How do you keep moths away from food?
I have dry goods - rice, spices, etc, which end up spoiling from moth's intrusion. They are kept in air tight plastic containers (usually original packaging), but they still seem to get inside.
Only safe methods please - no moth balls in my flour.
Answers:
The problem is that the larvae are already in the dry goods before you seal the plastic bags.
I don't have a problem with spices and bugs, but we cook with corn masa and flour a lot, so I buy all sizes of ziploc bags and put everything inside there.
We have never had a moth, but we have sawtooth beetles...they look like teeny flat ants, and get into EVERYTHING. The ziplocs work very nicely. It is extra work on your part, but better to do that than to have a nasty surprise.
put clothings on top
I have taken to keeping them in the refrigerator for exactly the reason you mentioned.
Are ya talking moths or weevils? I can't see moth living in an airtight container. They would fly out upon opening. Now weevils, they're nasty little creatures. Put a piece of cellophane over the top and then put on lid. This will help ensure the air tightness. Good luck with that!
my mum and her friends put a couple of dry red chilies in their stainless-steel flour canisters. it may sound "gross" to you but it really protects the flour from the moths and there is NO chili flavour/aftertaste to the flour.
if you don't want to use this method i would suggest using an air-tight, stainless-steel/acrylic canister; but there is no guarantee that this will protect you from moths. mice, yes, but moths can fit themselves under and into anything so the chili method is by far THE BEST way.
I've never heard of moths in dried goods but I'll take your word for it. In any case, bugs don't get into the food if it's in a sealed container. (Their little fingers are too weak to pry open the lid :) But, eggs are already in the product when you purchase it. And hatch inside the container. You can kill the eggs by spreading the rice or grain in a pan and nuking it in the microwave for a few seconds. Are you sure these weren't weevils?