How do you keep away insects from rice? (Photo: Getty Images/Thinkstock)
It is advised to store grains and pulses in air tight containers in cool, dry places. However, despite taking all precautions, you may have noticed insects and bugs crawling in them, making you repeatedly clean and rinse rice to get rid of them. But what if we told you that there are some simple ways that will ensure that your rice is bug-free? And trust us, the answer lies in your kitchen cabinet itself!
1. Bay or neem leaves
Bay leaf is an excellent way to get rid of bugs from rice. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)
This is one of the best remedies to get rid of beetles. Bay or neem leaves can be placed inside loose rice containers to avoid contamination. Store rice in an air tight container for better results.
ALSO READ | Kitchen hacks: Why you should not store these food items in your refrigerator
2. Cloves
They are easily available and help fight the bugs in order to avoid infestation. You can also add some clove oil to the disinfectant that is used to clean your cupboard shelves and pantry area.
3. Storing them in a refrigerator
Do you store rice in the refrigerator? (Photo: Getty Images/Thinkstock)
It is advised to store rice in the freezer as soon as you bring it home. This process will ensure all the weevils are killed. You can store them at room temperature in a couple of days.
4. Garlic
Put lots of unpeeled garlic pods in the rice container and shuffle it well. Change the pods once they dry out.
ALSO READ | Kitchen hacks: How to preserve nutrients in vegetables while cooking
5. Sunlight
If a large quantity of rice has been attacked by beetles, just keep it in the sunlight. Bugs do not like sunlight and will crawl away into dark and moist places. Make this a regular hygiene drill.
- The Indian Express website has been rated GREEN for its credibility and trustworthiness by Newsguard, a global service that rates news sources for their journalistic standards.
