Tupperware. Freeze all flour, sugar, grains for at least 3 days before you put them in the EMPTY containers to begin with. Make sure it's bug proof, hence the tupperware. I also use Mint oil spray in my cabinets to reduce any critters
Feed them to your chickens? I second the tupperware (or similar). Any tight-closing container should keep them out. I was under the impression that sugar needed to be kept frozen if you did freeze it? Is that not right? I bought a big bag a month or so ago, and was going to store it in the deep freeze, but my dad said it would have to stay in there, and just use it from the freezer?
Never had a problem with freezing sugar We had an infestation hit us in our last apartment, we dumped out most of the pantry and froze everything that came in that could possibly be attacked by weevils before we bought it. Took almost 2 months to get rid of them. If you have a really bad infestation freeze flour etc, pour it into the canister and put it back in the freezer until you get the problem under control. It's a royal pain in the butt but it helps. ETA.... Wait, I can see why he would say that about the sugar. I put mine directly into an air tight container as soon as I take it out of the freezer. If you leave it sitting out ion the counter in the bag condensation will form and wet the sugar. I do have a bit of a thin 'crust' on the sugar but it breaks back up easily.
No, we have an air-tight container, it's probably just the crust he's thinking about. One of these days I'll learn not to listen to him
Thanks for all the suggestions! I don't seem to have a problem with them in the sugar, we go through it too fast. But the flour is the problem, and jiffy corn bread mix, etc. I have put them all in the freezer. Will zip lock bags work for the storage containers when out? How long can you store them in the freezer without problems? (Our local store had them on sale this week and I stocked up) For those that use a bay leaf, how does that work? You just put a bay leaf in the container?
Yes, just put the bay leaf in the container. Or, if it is something you use a lot, tape the bay leaf to the lid of the container. Then you don't have to fish around it while scooping out what is stored in the container. Don't cover up the bay leaf entirely - just a thin strip of tape across the middle or on one end.
It is hard to get rid of them when you have them. Bay leaves help. Freezing helps. But you have to watch for the moths and larvae and kill them. They will cocoon everywhere. Worst case, you may have to bug bomb. I did not want to, but they were everywhere. Problem is also that they lay eggs in the food we purchase (whhile in the factory) and if we keep that food too long, they hatch. Ziplock bags will not keep them out.