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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Weevils in flour

34 replies

Bluebell99 · 13/09/2011 11:19

Was just about to bake some banana muffins when I found weevils (think that's what they are - little bugs) in my flour. In the sealable Homepride flour too. Whad should I do? So I need to throw all the flour out? What about sugar? Thanks

OP posts:
Iggly · 13/09/2011 11:20

Chuck all flour and give cupboards a good clean. Not sure they like sugar?

Also keep your flour in airtight containers from now on...

Original poster
Bluebell99 · 13/09/2011 11:26

I thought those homepride resealable ones were airtight. Bollocks going to have to throw out alot of stuff and clean.
My kitchen cupboards are overflowing.

OP posts:
Iggly · 13/09/2011 12:48

Same here! I bought some glass ones from ikea. They could have come in with the flour, you never know.

Original poster
Bluebell99 · 13/09/2011 13:06

Thanks Iggly. Been away clearing out my cupboards. Have done the baking one and have started on the one adjacent to it, and found more of the buggars in there. Have thrown loads of out of date stuff out, and loads of flour. Will teach me not to stock up on stuff. Will need to get some more airtight containers.

OP posts:
Iggly · 13/09/2011 13:13

Theyre little buggers aren't they!

SierraMadre · 13/09/2011 13:15

Lock and load Lock, that's what you need. The seal is really tight so the bugs can't get in. They do special ones that are designed for a bag of flour.

And yes, chuck the old flour, clean the cupboards (I Hoover with a crevice tool) and constant vigilance. They like rice, lentils and so on as well. Best to try not to have too many half used packets of pearl fucking barley and the like hanging around to encourage them.

fuzzywuzzy · 13/09/2011 13:20

As the other advice, throw out all flour and wash containers thoroughly.

Next time you have an open packet of flour put a couple of Bay leaves in, it keeps weevils away.

CaptainNancy · 13/09/2011 13:29

When you first buy the flour, place the packet into a freezer bag, and pop it in the freezer for 24 hours. Apparently (look away now those of a weak disposition) the freezing kills the weevil eggs that are already in the flour when purchased, and they don't grow into weevils.

I learned this from MN many moons ago- MNers know everything

Original poster
Bluebell99 · 13/09/2011 14:42

Why in a freezer bag tho?? (rushes back, takes out flour, puts in freezer bag back in the freezer) I have put three expensive unopened bags in the freezer. Hopefully not too late for them. God it is a nightmare. Will I ever get rid of them? :(

OP posts:
Catsmamma · 13/09/2011 14:44

I have never had weevils! NEVER

and i keep flour for aaaaaaaaaages!

CaptainNancy · 13/09/2011 15:24

freezer bag just to protect from frost damage I think... though tbh I leave the flour in there when I put it into the cupboard, as then I have no little flour spills to wipe up.

Iggly · 13/09/2011 17:37

Oooo good tip! Will try that!

Mousey84 · 13/09/2011 19:02

I would say its in case the paper bag sticks into the ice and rips when you remove it! I bought loads of the IKEA glass jars and they were rubbish - ended up with glass flakes in one lot of flour! I just use lock and lock now.

GrimmaTheNome · 13/09/2011 19:05

I had weevils once - since then I put flour bags into large ziplock bags (or a normal freezer bag with clippit) - takes less room and cheaper than storage containers.

alemci · 13/09/2011 19:08

I had them years ago. I always keep my flour in tupperware and have never had any problems

SinicalSal · 13/09/2011 19:11

Would you definitely notice them though.
DH says he found weevils in the flour once - he just chucked out the packet and we never cleaned out the press. I'm paranoid now that every other packet is infested also.

boaky buns

Thistledew · 13/09/2011 19:17

Apparently there are two types of weevils, big ones and small ones. The smaller ones are even said to enhance the flavour of your bread, so some people don't bother chucking the flour. It really is the lesser of the two weevils. Grin

CaptainMartinCrieff · 13/09/2011 19:27

catsmamma you've probably just not noticed them... They sometimes are already in the flour when you purchase it.

SinicalSal · 13/09/2011 20:07

Thistledew Grin

I suspect that whole post is a load of bolleaux in order to get that punchline in Grin

MindyMacready · 13/09/2011 20:11

They come with the flour. Freeze the flour for 24 hrs, then store. Job Done!

AngelDog · 13/09/2011 22:33

I'd heard to freeze the flour for 3 days.

One other thing is that weevils and similar critters like food and moisture so nicely washed shelves will still entice them back. The best thing to do is to dry off your shelves with a hairdryer after you've finished cleaning them so there aren't any damp nooks & crannies.

They like things other than flour & rice - we had some in bags of nuts.

Weevils are longer animals, and some are quite big - you'd notice them if they were moving. Others are called psocids and are very small - I wouldn't have spotted them unless I'd looked for them moving.

Keep checking the shelves on a regular basis. I had some recently and cleaned everything, but it turned out they were living on the floor. Hmm They do seem to be gone now though.

Lock & lock boxes are good - but only if you remember to close the lid after you've used them. We had to throw out half our food which was in (unsealed) lock & lock boxes. Hmm

Thistledew · 13/09/2011 22:35

SinicalSal- I do apologise. DP is away and I have no one else upon whom I can inflict my penchant for bad puns. Grin

Iggly · 14/09/2011 08:28
MyChildDoesntNeedSleep · 14/09/2011 10:41

Are weevils like silverfish?

MyChildDoesntNeedSleep · 14/09/2011 10:44

I've just Googled. Ahh.