Alright, listen up, y’all. We’re gonna talk about them pesky bugs in your flour and how to get rid of ’em by freezin’ it. You know, the kind that makes your bread taste…off. Yeah, them.
So, how long you gotta freeze that flour to kill them critters? Well, it ain’t no rocket science, I tell ya. From what I hear, and what my old neighbor used to do – bless her soul – you gotta stick that flour in the freezer for a good few days. Some folks say four days is enough.
But me? I always say better safe than sorry. I like to leave it in there for a whole week, seven days. That way, I know for sure them bugs ain’t gonna bother nobody no more. And you know, the freezer, it’s good for keepin’ things fresh anyway. Like my grandma used to say, “Cold keeps things good longer than a gossipin’ tongue.”
- Four days: Some folks say this is enough to kill the bugs. Maybe it is, maybe it ain’t. But it’s a start.
- Seven days: Now, this is what I recommend. A whole week in the freezer. Guaranteed to knock them bugs dead as a doornail.
You see, them bugs, they can’t stand the cold. It freezes ’em solid, like a icicle in January. And that’s what we want, right? We don’t want them crawlin’ around in our biscuits and cakes. Nobody wants a crunchy surprise in their pie, unless it’s pecans, you hear?
Now, some of you might be thinkin’, “Why freeze it at all? Why not just throw the flour out?” Well, flour ain’t cheap these days, and throwin’ away good food is a sin, plain and simple. Besides, freezin’ it is easy. Just take the whole bag, or if you already opened it, put it in a good plastic bag, make sure it’s sealed tight, you don’t want no freezer burn, and then toss it in the freezer.
And listen, don’t you go tryin’ to pick them bugs out. You’ll never get ’em all, and they’re so tiny, you’ll just be wastin’ your time and makin’ yourself crazy. Freezin’ is the way to go. It’s clean, it’s easy, and it works. Just like a good old-fashioned remedy.
Now, after you freeze the flour, you might still see some of them dead bugs. They don’t just disappear, you know. But don’t worry, they’re dead. If it bothers you, you can sift the flour after it thaws. Get yourself a fine sieve, and shake, shake, shake. That’ll get rid of the dead bodies. But honestly, most of the time, I don’t even bother. Dead bugs don’t hurt nobody. It’s the livin’ ones you gotta worry about.
And another thing, keepin’ your flour in the freezer, even if it don’t have bugs, ain’t a bad idea. It keeps it fresh longer, you know. Especially if you don’t use it up that fast. Keeps it from gettin’ that musty smell, like it’s been sittin’ in the cupboard for too long. You know the smell I’m talkin’ about.
So, there you have it. Freeze that flour for four to seven days to kill them bugs. It’s the best way to do it, trust me. I’ve been doin’ this for years, and it’s never failed me yet. And remember, a cold flour is a happy flour, and a happy flour makes a happy baker. And a happy baker makes a happy family. Now go on and bake somethin’ good, ya hear?
And one more thing before I forget. You might not even know you got bugs in your flour. They’re tiny little things, hard to see. But they’re there, trust me. So, it’s always a good idea to freeze new flour when you bring it home from the store, just to be safe. That’s what I do. Better safe than sorry, that’s what I always say.
Now get to freezin’! And don’t forget to label that bag so you know what it is. Don’t want to end up with frozen pancake mix instead of flour! Been there, done that!
After you take the flour out to use it, make sure you let it warm back up to room temperature before you start bakin’. If you use it cold your bread won’t rise good, and who wants a flat biscuit? Ain’t nobody, that’s who. You need that fluffy texture, so keep it at room temperature. Like the old saying goes, “room temp for the best tempt”.
Freezing flour doesn’t hurt it, some folks say it actually makes it last longer. So don’t you worry about it getting bad. But make sure to use a good sealed container, you do not want it tasting like the other stuff in your freezer. That would be a shame, and a waste.
Tags: [flour, bugs, freezer, freeze, kill bugs, storage, pantry pests, food safety, baking, weevils, flour mites]
