When I first started buying groats a few years back I regrettably
bought too much which meant that the jar of Groats (bought in bulk)
sat at room temperature for longer than it should have and after about
3 weeks or so I detected movement in the jar and yes there were
miniscule little insects barely visible that were moving around.

I posted here in this NG and asked what is happening? Suggestions and
comments I got were the following and they were from what I have been
able to gather right on. I have not had the bugs problem since. Here
is what I was told and what I did:

1) Don't buy so much in the beginning.....buy enough for a week or two
etc....so there is no need for longer storage.

2) The insects or the larva or whatever probably came from the source
and evidently this is true of rice as well and these ever present folk
will multiply if factors are opportune.

3) Store them (groats)in the freezer part of the fridge and this will
seriously retard any growth or development of these little pests. I do
that sometimes

4) If I buy about 4 cups at a time and keep in the fridge or freezer I
never have any problems. I don't need a lot because I am the only one
in my familly that eats groats.

5) Someone here this week has suggested putting a bay leaf in with the
groats to fend off unwanted critters....interesting.....

If you are buying your groats in a sealed metallic bag like they use
for coffee then maybe you won't have this problem......I don't
know.... However the packaged groats that I have seen have been in
sealed clear paper bags....

TJ

On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 15:10:47 -0600, wrote:

>>P.S.Storing groats can be a problem....because at room temperature
>>little creatures will start to propogate
>
>What are these little bugs and how long does it take
>for them to start to appear?
>
>Will keeping my McCann steel cut oats in the fridge
>help prevent these little bugs?