Page 1 of 4 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 40

Thread: pantry pests in Pinto Beans

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Posts
    5,848

    Default pantry pests in Pinto Beans

    In doing some rotating and inspecting of my "pantry" I discovered some winged critters in my 5 gallon bucket of pintos.

    The beans are in Mylar (which I intend to open, inspect and re-seal..but they were treated with dry ice prior to storage so I'm puzzled.

    1. Thought the dry ice killed off the little scum bags. Been considering switching to food grade DE instead. opinions?

    2. Aside from cleaning the bucket, etc...I'm thinking there's a way of salvaging these beans so they don't get tossed. Don't want to rinse (mold potential)...just sift through?? Sift and freeze in batches?

    3. Is this common?

    Glad I'm checking. I'd hate to have discovered after they consumed all the product
    ~Pyrate~


    "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

    John F. Kennedy

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Mississippi
    Posts
    2,522

    Default

    We haven't used any mylar bags for our beans so I can't speak to that part, but froze them all in the freezer for a couple of days, then mixed in DE as we filled the buckets.

    I just went through all of our goods after neglecting for two yrs , checked for bugs, etc and all of them were just fine, whew..

    I would suggest going ahead and sorting through them, then freezing and repacking, and adding DE.

    I have heard excellent reviews on the mylar so am curious as to what may have caused the problem.
    LMV

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Posts
    5,848

    Default

    Not finding much helpful on the net either. Most articles say to throw out the product...just seems like there should be another way
    ~Pyrate~


    "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

    John F. Kennedy

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Mississippi
    Posts
    2,522

    Default

    "they" have to err on the safe side I assume, but unless the beans are nastified I would salvage all I could...

    hoping someone with real knowledge steps into help ya, lol

    there is an official number of bug parts per million in food that TPTB think is acceptable for us consumers, lol, so why not see what you can save?

    after realizing that I had neglected to use some of the buckets of pinto beans, which tend to go hard more often than buggy, we canned up our first batch of pintos in quart jars. am new to canning so can't tell ya how proud I am over those 6 jars of canned beans, lol

    One concern is that it takes a lot of water and fuel to cook up beans unless using a pressure cooker and would rather have some ready to eat ahead of time in case of power outages, etc, not to mention one less thing to worry about getting funky.
    LMV

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Posts
    5,848

    Default

    I'm hearing crickets besides Luv's answer...

    With all our experienced folks here...words of wisdom anyone?
    ~Pyrate~


    "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

    John F. Kennedy

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Possum Hollow, KY
    Posts
    4,981

    Default

    I can tell you how to get the bugs out, but you'd have to cook them right away (or can them). One bit of advice, do not open them in your house again. They will get out and infest everything in your house and I'm not joking. I lost over 500 lbs of grain foods from doing that - flour, meal, crackers, noodles, all sorts of things.

    To get the bugs out, pour them into a colander outside, shake it well to get out as many bugs as possible, then dump the beans into a pot of water. Do this for all of them. Then start scooping out any bugs that float to the top of the water. Keep doing that until you no longer find bugs. Now soak them overnight and scoop any additional bugs that float up. Now drain the beans, rinse them, and either can or cook them. If you cook them, you don't have to eat them all right now, you can freeze them in meal-size portions.

    I know that sounds gross, but, if it comes down to getting the bugs out of something or going hungry, I'm getting the bugs out. Might as well learn how now.

    As far as preventing bugs in foods, the only sure-fire way I know of is to store them in the freezer all the time.

    I know I didn't offer much hope, but that's all I've got.
    Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but because you are. ~Author Unknown



  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Northern Il
    Posts
    2,566

    Default

    If you put the beans/wheat/whatever in a microwave and zap it for a minute or two will it kill little critters?

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Possum Hollow, KY
    Posts
    4,981

    Default

    It might kill them, but they'd still be in the food, so you'd have to sift and float them out anyway.
    Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but because you are. ~Author Unknown



  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    2,521

    Default

    I like Belle's suggestion of getting them outside and thunder's suggestion of the microwave. I know you can microwave dry beans, rice, wheat, corn, etc., without damage. It might lower the nutritional value some, not sure. I was going to suggest the oven 200 degrees for 30 minutes. The heat should also kill any eggs.
    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    timber missouri
    Posts
    20,314

    Default

    sift out what ya can and do the freezer thing again (remember always freeze twice) then re pack or rotate out.. its just dry beans an bugs,, aint no harm done..

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •