Storing plenty of flour, cornstarch and other dry goods in your pantry can be a good idea. You can often get better deals by buying these products in bulk, and you’ll know that you always have plenty on hand. One negative thing about keeping a lot of dry goods in your pantry, however, is the fact that you might find yourself having to deal with meal moths. Fortunately, following these tips can help.
1. Put New Pantry Items in the Freezer
One good way that you can help prevent meal moths from being a problem is by putting flour or other dry items in the freezer when you first bring them home in the grocery store. If you put them in the freezer overnight, then you can kill the meal moth eggs, if there are any present. Then, you can transfer your dry goods from your freezer to your pantry and use as you normally would.
2. Store Dry Goods in Airtight Containers
When storing dry goods in your pantry, it’s generally best not to store them in the bags that they come in. To help prevent meal moths and contamination of your dry goods, consider transferring them out of their bags and putting them in airtight containers that are made out of glass or plastic. In a pinch, you can also use zip-top plastic bags, although an airtight container with a lid is generally going to be the better choice.
3. Use Bay Leaves
If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you probably know that bay leaves can be used to add flavor to soups, stews and all sorts of other dishes. What you might not realize, however, is that bay leaves can be handy for other things in the kitchen as well. For example, bay leaves can be used to repel meal moths, so it’s a good idea to put a few bay leaves on your pantry shelves. This can help prevent meal moths from taking up residence in your pantry.
4. Clean the Pantry Regularly
It’s a good idea to get in the habit of wiping the shelves down in your pantry on a regular basis. This can help you get rid of meal moths and their eggs. Plus, it can help you ensure that your entire pantry stays nice, neat and clean.
As you can see, there are a few tips that you can follow if you would like to prevent a meal moth infestation. If you follow these tips, you might find that you can store plenty of dry goods without ever having to worry about meal moths invading your food and your pantry.