Does freezing (e.g. unprepared cereal) kill bugs?

[Muse]

I buy a lot of stuff in bulk at my local produce/super market. After storing it for some time, I hate it when I open my container of oatmeal or whatever and find it's been invaded by some insect and it's larvae, etc. I do not know if the bugs invaded before bringing it home or not.

For a couple of years I've taken to putting such things in the freezer for a few days after bringing them home, then transferring to tightly closed containers in kitchen cabinet. Does this actually work? It would have to kill larvae and eggs, obviously.

 

[minendo]

Eliminate the source of the infestation. Items you are buying at local store should be clean as they should have a pest control service as well as the suppliers have requirements they must meet. If the source is the store or supplier, pick a different place to shop. Otherwise figure out why you have the activity at your residence and eliminate it. Sounds like grain pests that should be easy to control with a pheromone trap.

 

[MiniDoom]

I think so, that's the purpose of freezing sushi grade fish.

 

[Rakehellion]

It's probably an infestation in your house.

And if you're okay with eating dead insects, you might as well just say screw it and cook the oatmeal like normal.

 

[chubbyfatazn]

Works whenever I find rice weevils in my rice. I always rinse rice before I cook it, and the weevils just float to the top.

Whatever's left should be killed during cooking. Whatever isn't killed... more protein mmm

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Seems like if you're properly storing your bulk items, they shouldn't get infested. Bugs aren't breaking into mason jars unless they were in there to begin with. If you're getting constant infestations, I'd switch up suppliers.

 

[Kaido]

Eliminate the source of the infestation. Items you are buying at local store should be clean as they should have a pest control service as well as the suppliers have requirements they must meet. If the source is the store or supplier, pick a different place to shop. Otherwise figure out why you have the activity at your residence and eliminate it. Sounds like grain pests that should be easy to control with a pheromone trap.

Either eliminate the source, or get sealed containers. OXO has a nice set of sealed containers:

http://www.oxo.com/p-877-10-piece-pop-container-set.aspx

I was never able to get rid of the ants when I lived in Florida, even if I kept things clean & got bug sprayed - had to go with sealed containers. At the time, I used cheap ones made from glass (huge jars) with a heavy glass lid. Fortunately bugs aren't a huge problem here in the frigid north

 

[Kaido]

Seems like if you're properly storing your bulk items, they shouldn't get infested. Bugs aren't breaking into mason jars unless they were in there to begin with. If you're getting constant infestations, I'd switch up suppliers.

I recent got addicted to mason jars. My house looks like something from Duck Dynasty now, I use them for everything from holding toothbrushes to pens to homemade mayo :awe:

 

[Howard]

I think so, that's the purpose of freezing sushi grade fish.

Not to kill insects, it isn't.

 

[Howard]

I recent got addicted to mason jars. My house looks like something from Duck Dynasty now, I use them for everything from holding toothbrushes to pens to homemade mayo :awe:

They're nice but I don't want to spend the money on a full set. I'd like to keep all my spices in glass mason jars but $$.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

They're nice but I don't want to spend the money on a full set. I'd like to keep all my spices in glass mason jars but $$.

You can find proper mason jars for about $1-2 a piece in all variety of sizes, and they last forever. You might lose a lid every now and then, but those can be cheaply replaced. So it doesn't seem like too much of an investment; less than $100 and you've got secure storage for everything you could ever want forever.

 

[Muse]

It's probably an infestation in your house.

And if you're okay with eating dead insects, you might as well just say screw it and cook the oatmeal like normal.

I did, and only noticed the bugs later. I think they explained why it tasted so bad!

 

[Muse]

Seems like if you're properly storing your bulk items, they shouldn't get infested. Bugs aren't breaking into mason jars unless they were in there to begin with. If you're getting constant infestations, I'd switch up suppliers.

Well, I had my oatmeal in an old cylindrical thin cardboard container such as the sell oatmeal in, I think Quaker Oats. This container was for grits, though, but it seems the same. I don't know why they sell it in cardboard containers, figured there is a reason. I'm not going to use them anymore. In any case, I figure there's no guarantee that bulk stuff I bring home isn't already infested and if freezing will kill larvae and eggs, why not do it a few days, then store in air-tight containers?

 

[Muse]

I recent got addicted to mason jars. My house looks like something from Duck Dynasty now, I use them for everything from holding toothbrushes to pens to homemade mayo :awe:

I bought 3 cases of quart mason jars this last autumn, had some from before. I've been canning my winter squash as they show signs of decay.

 

[minendo]

. In any case, I figure there's no guarantee that bulk stuff I bring home isn't already infested and if freezing will kill larvae and eggs, why not do it a few days, then store in air-tight containers?

If it is already infested then the supplier is not meeting FDA or FSMA regulations. Find a different supplier.

 

[edro]

Freezing will kill most bugs and eggs, but not bacteria.

 

[SP33Demon]

I recent got addicted to mason jars. My house looks like something from Duck Dynasty now, I use them for everything from holding toothbrushes to pens to homemade mayo :awe:

homemade mayo? :sneaky:

 

[Kaido]

homemade mayo? :sneaky:

Actually yes:

http://www.seriouseats.com/2011/10/the-food-lab-homemade-mayo-in-2-minutes-or-le.html

:awe:

 

[Kaido]

They're nice but I don't want to spend the money on a full set. I'd like to keep all my spices in glass mason jars but $$.

Yeah, I have some popup knockoffs from the grocery store, they were way cheaper than the OXO brand. Works great for cereal & flours. Mason jars are about a buck each if you buy them locally at an Ace Hardware or Walmart ($13 for a 12-pack).

If you have any craft-type stores around, a lot of them carry giant glass jars with glass lids that are heavy - those work pretty good because they're compressed by weight, no silicon ring or other sealing method required. Something like this:

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/core-one-gallon-glass-jar-with-glass-cover/553100039.html

I still have't found a spice storage system I'm satisfied with. Ideally I'd like a magnetic wall with jars that have shaker lids on the top. I dunno. Still rolling ideas around. Right now I just keep everything in a giant carry box, it's a mess haha.

 

[Muse]

homemade mayo? :sneaky:

I've made mayo before, don't bother nowadays, I get a 1/2 gallon at Costco, put in quart jars and refrigerate. Cost effective.

Freezing will kill most bugs and eggs, but not bacteria.

Thanks for that info, hope it's true.

If it is already infested then the supplier is not meeting FDA or FSMA regulations. Find a different supplier.

I have no way of knowing if that stuff was already infested or if it happened in my kitchen.

 

[Craig234]

I was thinking of posting this, so:

There's a logical conclusion here.

If you leave fruit (rotted, etc.) in the trash in the kitchen in a house that doesn't have an opening for flying insects from the outside, it seems it often gets gnats.

So, where did they come from? Hard to not determine they come from the fruit.

The fruit you were otherwise going to eat. Eggs that were already there.

 

[minendo]

I've made mayo before, don't bother nowadays, I get a 1/2 gallon at Costco, put in quart jars and refrigerate. Cost effective.
Thanks for that info, hope it's true.I have no way of knowing if that stuff was already infested or if it happened in my kitchen.

Chances are it happened at your house as industry is under strict requirements when it comes to pest infestation and control. All the large manufactures/suppliers are audited by AIB or some other certification body (SQF/BRC/ISO) and pest activity in packaged/processed product would result in failure and/or pulling of their certification. If the supplier expects to sell in the largest grocer in the US (Walmart) they have to have at least a GFSI certification.

All that said it occurred either at the grocery store (highly unlikely) or your residence.

 

[Rakehellion]

Not to kill insects, it isn't.

Fish have parasites.

 

[Rakehellion]

I have no way of knowing if that stuff was already infested or if it happened in my kitchen.

You really need to find out.

I say most likely it happened after you got home.

 

[Puppies04]

And if you're okay with eating dead insects, you might as well just say screw it and cook the oatmeal like normal.

and if you aren't ok with eating dead insects then don't eat peanut butter. I heard on a tv program that you are allowed "X" amount of insect parts per 100 grams or something similar.