The Fresh Loaf

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Freezing Flour?

old baker's picture
old baker

Freezing Flour?

We recently had an infestation of pantry moths.  After weeks of cleaning and discarding many infested containers, we finally got rid of them.  One preventative measure from several sources on the net recommends freezing containers of cereal grains (dry cereal, rice, oatmeal, etc) for a couple of days immediately after bringing them home from the store and prior to putting them in the pantry/closet/cabinet.  This kills the eggs, larvae, etc.

Is there any harm to flour from doing this?  How about long term storage in the freezer?

Garlicman's picture
Garlicman

I keep all my whole grain flours plus raw seeds and nuts in the freezer. Also consider using pheromone traps to monitor and control pantry moths. I particularly like Pro-Pest brand pantry moth traps.

Paul

old baker's picture
old baker

I gather from your comment that you've had no problems storing flour in the freezer.  I'd prefer to kill the critters BEFORE they get inside rather than to trap them once they're here.

Garlicman's picture
Garlicman

Old Baker,

Yes no problems storing flours in the freezer. I try to get my frozen flours into glass jars. The flours can pick up off odors from it's freezer mates. I fondly recall some rye flour stored with frozen smoked turkey. I mentioned the pheromone traps because you may think you have eliminated the problem but that might not be the case. Pantry moths (most likely Indian Meal Moth) are devious buggers. I use pheromone traps as a 'heads up'.

Paul

old baker's picture
old baker

I'll keep the flour frozen just for a couple of days, long enough to wipe out the moth cycle (if it's there).  There's nothing else in the freezer to impart any odors.  As for the traps, a good idea to monitor the pantry.  Once we eliminated them, we placed open jars of bay leaves and an occasional drip of oil of eucalyptus on a rag as a deterrent (suggested by several sources).  That has worked for the past several months, but you never know when the critters may return.  They are tough to get rid of.