- Nov 23, 2018
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In the fall, we are overrun by armyworms hatching from nearby alfalfa fields. We are talking millions of caterpillars! This year I would like to collect and process them for feed. I have questions about others' experiences and processing.
Since there would be soooo many, the best option for us would be to pop them in the freezer in gallon bags. I have seen several posters suggest this. When thawed, won't they pop and become a gooey mess? I've also read boiling before freezing/drying is preferred. Supposedly, it cleanses and prevents blackening of the caterpillar. Does it help keep the bodily integrity for subsequent processing (like shrimps)? We do have a dehydrator, but it could not handle this scale of drying! I REFUSE to dry them in my oven. I've dried other things in the past and the oven-dried smells l i n g e r. What about
canning? Pressure cook (like meats) or add acid and hot water bathe them? We could, theoretically, boil and sun dry them, but the starling, blackbirds, etc..... I usually dry herbs/bread between layers of window screen, slightly covered to prevent sun scorch, but this is a much larger scale. Has anyone else tried the sun-drying?
(I'm not too worried about processing thousands of caterpillars: my nephew will jump at the chance to make $$. Between his rural and my suburban contacts, they will all find good 'homes'
)
Thank you in advance!
Since there would be soooo many, the best option for us would be to pop them in the freezer in gallon bags. I have seen several posters suggest this. When thawed, won't they pop and become a gooey mess? I've also read boiling before freezing/drying is preferred. Supposedly, it cleanses and prevents blackening of the caterpillar. Does it help keep the bodily integrity for subsequent processing (like shrimps)? We do have a dehydrator, but it could not handle this scale of drying! I REFUSE to dry them in my oven. I've dried other things in the past and the oven-dried smells l i n g e r. What about
canning? Pressure cook (like meats) or add acid and hot water bathe them? We could, theoretically, boil and sun dry them, but the starling, blackbirds, etc..... I usually dry herbs/bread between layers of window screen, slightly covered to prevent sun scorch, but this is a much larger scale. Has anyone else tried the sun-drying? (I'm not too worried about processing thousands of caterpillars: my nephew will jump at the chance to make $$. Between his rural and my suburban contacts, they will all find good 'homes'
)Thank you in advance!
