Share on ThriftyFunThis page contains the following solutions. Have something to add? Please share your solution!
Many people I know store their flour, corn meal, cake mixes, etc. in their freezer or refrigerator. While this does keep pests from showing up in the dried goods, it takes up a lot of room in the appliance. An easier way that always works for me is to use Wrigley's Spearmint gum. You take the paper wrap off and leave the foil on. Put 2 or 3 pieces in each container. If there are any eggs or larva, they go inside the foil leaving the rest clear. It also seems to keep new pests from entering. For mixes, I put them into a ziploc bag with the gum. I never have any weevils in my food.
Ask a QuestionHere are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question.
I use to make heating pads a lot, but stopped for about two years. I just opened my box that had a half used jumbo bag of rice that I use only for heat pads, and of course it had the little rice bugs. It got me thinking and now my question is how do I store a jumbo bag of rice for crafts without getting bugs? It was in a new sealed tight container.
Also, if you leave a heat pad too long without using it, is it possible for that to get rice bugs?
Any time you want to store grains for a long time it is necessary to remove the gains from the bags they are in and store them in a very thick plastic container with a tight lid that seals or store them in a medal container with a tight fitting lid. If you have made these heat pads in the past the person can store them in sealed containers or even in their refrigerator to prevent bugs from getting in them.
I used to keep my crafting rice in glass jar in the freezer--like a giant mayo jug type. It always was fine. I would defrost what I needed (let it sit on the shelf) for a day before using.
I keep my rice buddies (the finished products) in a zip bag in my freezer. Then I heat them if I want hot or use them frozen for a migraine or swelling.
I have never had a problem with this method.
Rice weevils do not like heat. Because this is rice you could store it in a sealed tight warm place. - here is a link for help - bugwiz.com/
You are lucky if this is the only place you have these weevils as they generally infect other areas once they get 'loose'.
Truthfully; almost every grain/flour product you buy already has some type of weevil living in the package.
"They have the ability to fly and chew through plastic and paper, which can lead to food spoilage and damage."
I generally always add Diatomaceous Earth (food grade) (DE) to my containers as well as my bird seed as it seems to keep my containers 'bug free'. You only need a small amount in each container and you can also use it to kill almost any kinds of household bug. This can be purchased online or in stores like Home Depot or Lowes.
I had simmered down and deboned the carcass of a lovely broasted chicken for soup. The broth was perfect, as was the fresh veggies and spices that I added. Into my pristine soup, I proceeded to pour a box of rice and it was full of weevils.
