Discovering insects in your food can be a startling experience. Whether it’s the first time or a recurring issue, finding crawly creatures in your pantry is a common problem. You might have kitchen pests, specifically grain weevils. While the thought of eating insects might be off-putting for many in Western cultures, they are a source of protein and are consumed in other parts of the world. However, most of us prefer our pantries and food insect-free.
Pantry pests are a widespread issue, and their presence isn’t necessarily an indicator of poor housekeeping. These insects often lay eggs in grains, and under favorable conditions, these eggs hatch, leading to larvae that feed on the food, mature into adults, reproduce, and lay more eggs. Some adult pests can fly, and some larvae pupate in cocoons. Infestation can occur at any stage of the food supply chain – from growth and harvesting to storage in warehouses, stores, or your own home. They can infiltrate food packaging, even chewing through plastic bags, and hide in shelf crevices and wall cracks. A small number of pests can quickly escalate into a full-blown infestation. To effectively eradicate them, it’s crucial to remove contaminated food and packaging, and thoroughly clean the affected areas.
After consulting several Extension publications, I embarked on a day-long project to tackle my own pantry pest problem. It was a lengthy process mainly because my pantry closet is well-stocked (prepared for any culinary need, storm, or emergency!), and I should have addressed the issue immediately after spotting the first bugs! Here are the lessons I learned to help you protect your food from pests and eliminate them if they appear.
✔ Start Your Pest Control Early in the Day: This task can be time-consuming. Put on some music and consider asking for help to make the process quicker and more manageable.
✔ Gather Your Pest Control Supplies: You’ll need garbage bags, a vacuum cleaner, a cleaning solution and cloth (an all-purpose household cleaner works well), airtight plastic or glass food storage containers, scissors, freezer-weight plastic bags (quart, gallon, and 2-gallon sizes), and markers or a China marker (waxy pencil) or masking tape for labeling repackaged food.
✔ Empty the Entire Pantry or Cabinet: You might need to extend to adjacent cabinets to ensure all potentially infested areas are addressed.
✔ Jars and Canned Food are Usually Safe: However, this is a good opportunity to check expiration dates and wipe off any dust. If labels are loose, inspect for any signs of insects. If you find any, remove the label (after noting important information), wash the can, and then relabel and date it with a permanent marker.
✔ Inspect Every Paper or Cardboard Package Carefully: Any package visibly infested with insects should be immediately placed in a garbage bag. Keep the bag sealed to prevent pests from escaping.
✔ Open and Inspect All Paper and Cardboard Packages: Even if the food appears to be insect-free, eggs might be present in the packaging. Discard the outer cardboard packaging, but retain any necessary directions or ingredient information. Cut out this information, place it in a plastic bag, and attach it to or place it inside the new container. Transfer the food into a glass or plastic food container, label it, and date it. Remember, insects can chew through plastic bags, even freezer-weight ones, so double-bagging is advisable if you opt for bags.
✔ Freezing Food to Kill Pests: One effective method to eliminate larvae and adult insects is to freeze the food for 3 to 4 days at 0°F (-18°C). I used this method for some of my food items. Be aware that while freezing kills the pests, their dead bodies will remain, so inspection after freezing is still necessary.
✔ Remove and Replace Shelf Liners: Discard any shelf coverings. After emptying the pantry or cabinet, vacuum thoroughly, paying attention to corners and crevices (immediately dispose of the vacuum bag in an outside trash can). Then, wash all surfaces with your cleaning solution and allow them to dry completely before restocking. I decided to skip replacing shelf paper until I was certain the pests were completely gone. While pest control sprays and traps are available, thorough cleaning is often sufficient.
✔ Dispose of All Trash Outdoors Immediately: This prevents any escaped pests from re-infesting your home.
✔ Restock Your Pantry with Cleaned and Repackaged Food: This is an ideal time to reorganize your pantry and group similar items together. Creating an inventory can be helpful for pantry management, if you can maintain it.
✔ Re-inspect Food Before Use: Trust my experience – always check food before using it. I learned the hard way not to pour pudding mix directly into milk without checking it first. Pasta should be inspected before cooking and again as it begins to boil, as pests will float to the surface.
✔ Persistent Pests: It’s possible that the first cleaning might not eliminate all pests. For ongoing prevention, continue to store grain and flour products in glass or plastic containers for a few months before considering returning them to their original packaging on the shelves. You might even decide to use containers permanently as a preventative measure.
After completing this thorough cleaning and reorganization, take a moment to appreciate your newly clean and organized pantry space. Reward yourself with your favorite drink and relax – you deserve it!
Choosing the Right Food Storage Containers:
Utilize containers you already have, such as glass or plastic jars, plastic containers, coffee cans, or metal tins. If you are purchasing new containers, consider these features:
- Size and Shape: Choose sizes and shapes that are appropriate for the types of food you store. Specialty containers for items like cereal and spaghetti are available.
- Clear Sides: Opt for containers with clear sides so you can easily see the contents.
- Tight-Fitting, Easy-to-Open Lids: Ensure lids are tight-fitting to keep pests out but also easy to open for convenient access.
- Stackable Design: Stackable containers help maximize pantry space. Be aware that different brands often don’t stack well together.
- Easy to Clean: Choose containers that are easy to clean for hygiene and maintenance.
Extension Resources for Further Information:
- Pantry Pests, FS1149, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
- Insects in Your Food and Pantry, Nebraska Extension
