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  #1 (permalink)   Report Post  
Stark
 
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Default Critters in my Grits

We don't eat them often. Usually with a dinner breakfast or shrimp and
grits, so they're a slow turnover in my pantry. I usually keep them in
a plastic container.

Last night I opened a box-Quaker Quick- that had been around for a
couple of months and the critters were rife.

Where do the little buggers come from? I've never had them show up in
my plastic containers, even after a year. And I can't remember ever
finding them in a reasonably fresh box. I'm talking 30 plus years of
moderate grits usage.

Did I just get a bad batch? Or are all grits critter-prone? If so, do
my airtight containers prevent their development? And what does an
undeveloped critter look like? Just another grit?
  #2 (permalink)   Report Post  
Wayne Boatwright
 
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On Wed 19 Jan 2005 05:58:41a, Stark tittered and giggled, and giggled and
tittered, and finally blurted out...

> We don't eat them often. Usually with a dinner breakfast or shrimp and
> grits, so they're a slow turnover in my pantry. I usually keep them in
> a plastic container.
>
> Last night I opened a box-Quaker Quick- that had been around for a
> couple of months and the critters were rife.
>
> Where do the little buggers come from? I've never had them show up in
> my plastic containers, even after a year. And I can't remember ever
> finding them in a reasonably fresh box. I'm talking 30 plus years of
> moderate grits usage.
>
> Did I just get a bad batch? Or are all grits critter-prone? If so, do
> my airtight containers prevent their development? And what does an
> undeveloped critter look like? Just another grit?


Sometimes the eggs are already in the grits or other grains. If you open a
box when you buy it, push a bay leaf down into the grits. Critters don't
like them and won't usually infiltrate them.

I once bought a box of breakfast cereal and placed unopened in a cabinet.
A couple of weeks later when I opened that cabinet it was full of little
winged critters. On close examination, it appeared that they had arrived
under the bottom flap of cardboard on the box. Had to throw everything out
of that cabinet and sterilize it.

Wayne

  #3 (permalink)   Report Post  
Bob (this one)
 
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Wayne Boatwright wrote:

> On Wed 19 Jan 2005 05:58:41a, Stark tittered and giggled, and giggled and
> tittered, and finally blurted out...
>
>
>>We don't eat them often. Usually with a dinner breakfast or shrimp and
>>grits, so they're a slow turnover in my pantry. I usually keep them in
>>a plastic container.
>>
>>Last night I opened a box-Quaker Quick- that had been around for a
>>couple of months and the critters were rife.
>>
>>Where do the little buggers come from? I've never had them show up in
>>my plastic containers, even after a year. And I can't remember ever
>>finding them in a reasonably fresh box. I'm talking 30 plus years of
>>moderate grits usage.
>>
>>Did I just get a bad batch? Or are all grits critter-prone? If so, do
>>my airtight containers prevent their development? And what does an
>>undeveloped critter look like? Just another grit?

>
>
> Sometimes the eggs are already in the grits or other grains. If you open a
> box when you buy it, push a bay leaf down into the grits. Critters don't
> like them and won't usually infiltrate them.


Oh, sure, Wayne. Try to throw them off the track, why don't you...?

The critters are beamed down from the mothership. Everybody knows
that. The bay leaf is a secret signal to stop sending them down. I
mean a *bay leaf*...

What could be more unlikely.

No, seriously...

Pastorio

>
> I once bought a box of breakfast cereal and placed unopened in a cabinet.
> A couple of weeks later when I opened that cabinet it was full of little
> winged critters. On close examination, it appeared that they had arrived
> under the bottom flap of cardboard on the box. Had to throw everything out
> of that cabinet and sterilize it.
>
> Wayne
>


  #4 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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spontaneous generation......

--


Stark wrote:
> We don't eat them often. Usually with a dinner breakfast or shrimp and
> grits, so they're a slow turnover in my pantry. I usually keep them
> in a plastic container.
>
> Last night I opened a box-Quaker Quick- that had been around for a
> couple of months and the critters were rife.
>
> Where do the little buggers come from? I've never had them show up in
> my plastic containers, even after a year. And I can't remember ever
> finding them in a reasonably fresh box. I'm talking 30 plus years of
> moderate grits usage.
>
> Did I just get a bad batch? Or are all grits critter-prone? If so, do
> my airtight containers prevent their development? And what does an
> undeveloped critter look like? Just another grit?



  #5 (permalink)   Report Post  
Wayne Boatwright
 
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On Wed 19 Jan 2005 06:24:31a, Bob (this one) tittered and giggled, and
giggled and tittered, and finally blurted out...

> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>
>> On Wed 19 Jan 2005 05:58:41a, Stark tittered and giggled, and giggled
>> and tittered, and finally blurted out...
>>
>>
>>>We don't eat them often. Usually with a dinner breakfast or shrimp and
>>>grits, so they're a slow turnover in my pantry. I usually keep them in
>>>a plastic container.
>>>
>>>Last night I opened a box-Quaker Quick- that had been around for a
>>>couple of months and the critters were rife.
>>>
>>>Where do the little buggers come from? I've never had them show up in
>>>my plastic containers, even after a year. And I can't remember ever
>>>finding them in a reasonably fresh box. I'm talking 30 plus years of
>>>moderate grits usage.
>>>
>>>Did I just get a bad batch? Or are all grits critter-prone? If so, do
>>>my airtight containers prevent their development? And what does an
>>>undeveloped critter look like? Just another grit?

>>
>>
>> Sometimes the eggs are already in the grits or other grains. If you
>> open a box when you buy it, push a bay leaf down into the grits.
>> Critters don't like them and won't usually infiltrate them.

>
> Oh, sure, Wayne. Try to throw them off the track, why don't you...?
>
> The critters are beamed down from the mothership. Everybody knows
> that. The bay leaf is a secret signal to stop sending them down. I
> mean a *bay leaf*...


LOL!

> What could be more unlikely.
>
> No, seriously...
>
> Pastorio


Bob, I know it doesn't make sense, but it does seem to work. Thirty odd
years ago I had an infestation in my cornmeal, flour, grits, etc. I've
been keeping a bay leaf in each container ever since then and have never
had a problem. Coincidence? Maybe.

Wayne


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Hairy
 
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Default


"Stark" > wrote in message
...
> We don't eat them often. Usually with a dinner breakfast or shrimp and
> grits, so they're a slow turnover in my pantry. I usually keep them in
> a plastic container.
>
> Last night I opened a box-Quaker Quick- that had been around for a
> couple of months and the critters were rife.
>
> Where do the little buggers come from? I've never had them show up in
> my plastic containers, even after a year. And I can't remember ever
> finding them in a reasonably fresh box. I'm talking 30 plus years of
> moderate grits usage.
>
> Did I just get a bad batch? Or are all grits critter-prone? If so, do
> my airtight containers prevent their development? And what does an
> undeveloped critter look like? Just another grit?


Don't worry about the critters. That's just the high protein version of
grits. ;-)
H


  #7 (permalink)   Report Post  
notbob
 
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On 2005-01-19, Stark > wrote:

> Where do the little buggers come from?



They often come from the source. I've had little meal bugs come in a
a new box/bag of whatever and I've had a mini-moth infestation from bulk granola.
Never again. I now put all grains, meal, flours, etc, in rubber sealed
wire-bail storage jars immediately. If I see obvious evidence of
entomological enterprise they immediately experience instant egress (say
that fast 5 times . I use Luminarc jars, but there are several brands
available. Here's some:

http://www.villagekitchen.com/mfg/index/jar_index.html

These don't eliminate the problem, but they do isolate it, so if you do have
an infestation it doesn't spread to everything else in your pantry. It's an
unwanted expense, initially, but it's cheaper than replacing all your dry
goods every few years.

Here's more info on bugs that may be buggin' ya'.

http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entom...ruct/ef612.htm

notbugged
  #8 (permalink)   Report Post  
jmcquown
 
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Wayne Boatwright wrote:
> On Wed 19 Jan 2005 06:24:31a, Bob (this one) tittered and giggled, and
> giggled and tittered, and finally blurted out...
>
>> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>
>>> On Wed 19 Jan 2005 05:58:41a, Stark tittered and giggled, and
>>> giggled and tittered, and finally blurted out...
>>>
>>>
>>>> We don't eat them often. Usually with a dinner breakfast or shrimp
>>>> and grits, so they're a slow turnover in my pantry. I usually
>>>> keep them in a plastic container.
>>>>
>>>> Last night I opened a box-Quaker Quick- that had been around for a
>>>> couple of months and the critters were rife.
>>>>
>>>> Where do the little buggers come from? I've never had them show up
>>>> in my plastic containers, even after a year. And I can't remember
>>>> ever finding them in a reasonably fresh box. I'm talking 30 plus
>>>> years of moderate grits usage.
>>>>
>>>> Did I just get a bad batch? Or are all grits critter-prone? If
>>>> so, do my airtight containers prevent their development? And what
>>>> does an undeveloped critter look like? Just another grit?
>>>
>>>
>>> Sometimes the eggs are already in the grits or other grains. If you
>>> open a box when you buy it, push a bay leaf down into the grits.
>>> Critters don't like them and won't usually infiltrate them.

>>
>> Oh, sure, Wayne. Try to throw them off the track, why don't you...?
>>
>> The critters are beamed down from the mothership. Everybody knows
>> that. The bay leaf is a secret signal to stop sending them down. I
>> mean a *bay leaf*...

>
> LOL!
>
>> What could be more unlikely.
>>
>> No, seriously...
>>
>> Pastorio

>
> Bob, I know it doesn't make sense, but it does seem to work. Thirty
> odd years ago I had an infestation in my cornmeal, flour, grits, etc.
> I've been keeping a bay leaf in each container ever since then and
> have never had a problem. Coincidence? Maybe.
>
> Wayne


I do the same thing with flour, cornmeal, even rice. I have no scientific
study to back this up but for some reason the critters don't bother grain
products containing a bay leaf or two. Been doing it for 25 years. If I
forget to add the bay leaf, I get critters.

Jill


  #9 (permalink)   Report Post  
MOMPEAGRAM
 
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Sound like the Indian Meal moths we got from a package of Quaker oats. It
took me years to finally get rid of them.

I had to hang traps all over the place to finally eradicate them.

"Wayne Boatwright" > wrote in message
...
> On Wed 19 Jan 2005 05:58:41a, Stark tittered and giggled, and giggled and
> tittered, and finally blurted out...
>
>> We don't eat them often. Usually with a dinner breakfast or shrimp and
>> grits, so they're a slow turnover in my pantry. I usually keep them in
>> a plastic container.
>>
>> Last night I opened a box-Quaker Quick- that had been around for a
>> couple of months and the critters were rife.
>>
>> Where do the little buggers come from? I've never had them show up in
>> my plastic containers, even after a year. And I can't remember ever
>> finding them in a reasonably fresh box. I'm talking 30 plus years of
>> moderate grits usage.
>>
>> Did I just get a bad batch? Or are all grits critter-prone? If so, do
>> my airtight containers prevent their development? And what does an
>> undeveloped critter look like? Just another grit?

>
> Sometimes the eggs are already in the grits or other grains. If you open
> a
> box when you buy it, push a bay leaf down into the grits. Critters don't
> like them and won't usually infiltrate them.
>
> I once bought a box of breakfast cereal and placed unopened in a cabinet.
> A couple of weeks later when I opened that cabinet it was full of little
> winged critters. On close examination, it appeared that they had arrived
> under the bottom flap of cardboard on the box. Had to throw everything
> out
> of that cabinet and sterilize it.
>
> Wayne
>



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Glenn Jacobs
 
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On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 12:58:41 GMT, Stark wrote:

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> Subject: Critters in my Grits
> From: Stark >
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>
> We don't eat them often. Usually with a dinner breakfast or shrimp and
> grits, so they're a slow turnover in my pantry. I usually keep them in
> a plastic container.
>
> Last night I opened a box-Quaker Quick- that had been around for a
> couple of months and the critters were rife.
>
> Where do the little buggers come from? I've never had them show up in
> my plastic containers, even after a year. And I can't remember ever
> finding them in a reasonably fresh box. I'm talking 30 plus years of
> moderate grits usage.
>
> Did I just get a bad batch? Or are all grits critter-prone? If so, do
> my airtight containers prevent their development? And what does an
> undeveloped critter look like? Just another grit?


They won't hurt you. Probably they were in the form of eggs when it was
boxed. When i lived in the Canary Island, before we cokked pasta we would
cover the pasta with cold water, let the bugs float to the surface and then
poor off the water and up the pasta in boiling water.

--
JakeInHartsel

Food, The Art Form that You Can Eat



  #11 (permalink)   Report Post  
PENMART01
 
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>Stark writes:
>
>We don't eat them often. Usually with a dinner breakfast or shrimp and
>grits, so they're a slow turnover in my pantry. I usually keep them in
>a plastic container.
>
>Last night I opened a box-Quaker Quick- that had been around for a
>couple of months and the critters were rife.
>
>Where do the little buggers come from? I've never had them show up in
>my plastic containers, even after a year. And I can't remember ever
>finding them in a reasonably fresh box. I'm talking 30 plus years of
>moderate grits usage.
>
>Did I just get a bad batch? Or are all grits critter-prone? If so, do
>my airtight containers prevent their development? And what does an
>undeveloped critter look like? Just another grit?


All grains contain critters, it's a natural fact of life... why do you think
bakers began putting seeds in bread. The insect eggs/larva are in the grain
when harvested, and there is no way to remove them without destroying the
grain, and practically no way of killing the little buggers without rendering
the grain unfit for human consumption. Short of irradiation about all you can
do to alleviate the problem is to shop from a different market, one with a
faster turnover of the grain products you use, buy only what you can reasonably
consume within three months (there's no saving in buying stock-up size
quantities if you end up tossing half), and continue to immediately transfer
the grain products into airtight containers. If you have the space you can
freeze these products but that does not kill the suckers, only retards
proliferation (in fact freezing is often a necessary element of the insect's
life cycle - it gets damn cold in Iowa, yet the little beasties thrive in the
corn fields). Some have suggested microwaving, but heating the natural oils
contained therein destroys a lot of the nutritional value... just consider the
insect parts a little added protein. Any one who eats veggies also eats meat
(the warmer the climate lived in the more animal protein contained in veggies),
and herein lies the reason why there is no such thing as a vegetarian[period]
Those so-called vegetarians in India, and elsewhere, consume proportionatly
more animal protein in the form of insects contained in grain then Americans do
in beef, no doubt about it, none whatsoever... that's how those uneducated
freaks continue to live yet claim they eat no animal protein... hey, those
mouse turds in their lentils contain substantial animal protein... not to
mention the human waste in their rice paddys... yoose best wash yer basmati.



---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
*********
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
Sheldon
````````````
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Mrmiss2
 
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>Subject: Critters in my Grits

In addition to putting bay leaves in your flour,corn meal, etc. , also spread
them on your shelves.
And don't forget to put bay leaves in your spices, they especially love
paprika and ground red pepper, cayenne!
The little devils love the hot spices.
Nancree
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Siobhan Perricone
 
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On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 09:31:19 -0600, "jmcquown" >
wrote:

>> Bob, I know it doesn't make sense, but it does seem to work. Thirty
>> odd years ago I had an infestation in my cornmeal, flour, grits, etc.
>> I've been keeping a bay leaf in each container ever since then and
>> have never had a problem. Coincidence? Maybe.

>
>I do the same thing with flour, cornmeal, even rice. I have no scientific
>study to back this up but for some reason the critters don't bother grain
>products containing a bay leaf or two. Been doing it for 25 years. If I
>forget to add the bay leaf, I get critters.


I don't do this, and I can't remember the last time I had critters in any
of my grits, flour, cornmeal, etc.

--
Siobhan Perricone
Humans wrote the bible,
God wrote the rocks
-- Word of God by Kathy Mar
  #14 (permalink)   Report Post  
anon
 
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"Stark" > wrote in message
...
> We don't eat them often. Usually with a dinner breakfast or shrimp and
> grits, so they're a slow turnover in my pantry. I usually keep them in
> a plastic container.
>
> Last night I opened a box-Quaker Quick- that had been around for a
> couple of months and the critters were rife.
>
> Where do the little buggers come from? I've never had them show up in
> my plastic containers, even after a year. And I can't remember ever
> finding them in a reasonably fresh box. I'm talking 30 plus years of
> moderate grits usage.
>
> Did I just get a bad batch? Or are all grits critter-prone? If so, do
> my airtight containers prevent their development? And what does an
> undeveloped critter look like? Just another grit?


Not entirely sure what grits or critters are - some kind of porridge and
some kind of beetle?

I remember once making a curry which was nearly cooked, and tasting pretty
good, until I decided to add a few ground almonds from a pack I had opened
a while ago. Unfortunately the almonds were crawling with some kind of small
brown beetle, and I didn't notice until I had poured some in.

It did cross my mind that I could sling in a few cumin seeds and hope nobody
noticed the difference, but only for a moment.

--
The CookieWiki
www.cookiewiki.com - where else?


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jmcquown
 
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Siobhan Perricone wrote:
> On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 09:31:19 -0600, "jmcquown"
> > wrote:
>
>>> Bob, I know it doesn't make sense, but it does seem to work. Thirty
>>> odd years ago I had an infestation in my cornmeal, flour, grits,
>>> etc. I've been keeping a bay leaf in each container ever since then
>>> and
>>> have never had a problem. Coincidence? Maybe.

>>
>> I do the same thing with flour, cornmeal, even rice. I have no
>> scientific study to back this up but for some reason the critters
>> don't bother grain products containing a bay leaf or two. Been
>> doing it for 25 years. If I forget to add the bay leaf, I get
>> critters.

>
> I don't do this, and I can't remember the last time I had critters in
> any of my grits, flour, cornmeal, etc.


Perhaps you use yours faster than I use mine? Grits don't last long around
here and I do get a hankering for corn muffins once a month. Flour I hardly
ever use; 1 cup goes into the cornmeal for the muffins but other than that,
it just sits there.

Jill

Jill




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Siobhan Perricone
 
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On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 02:36:26 -0600, "jmcquown" >
wrote:

>> I don't do this, and I can't remember the last time I had critters in
>> any of my grits, flour, cornmeal, etc.

>
>Perhaps you use yours faster than I use mine? Grits don't last long around
>here and I do get a hankering for corn muffins once a month. Flour I hardly
>ever use; 1 cup goes into the cornmeal for the muffins but other than that,
>it just sits there.


Not likely, the flour I have right now I've had for years. Frank and I are
diabetic, so carbs like flour, cornmeal, and grits are used sparingly.
Maybe it has something to do with the climate I live in? It's colder here
than where you are. *ponder* S'weird.

--
Siobhan Perricone
Humans wrote the bible,
God wrote the rocks
-- Word of God by Kathy Mar
  #17 (permalink)   Report Post  
jmcquown
 
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Siobhan Perricone wrote:
> On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 02:36:26 -0600, "jmcquown"
> > wrote:
>
>>> I don't do this, and I can't remember the last time I had critters
>>> in
>>> any of my grits, flour, cornmeal, etc.

>>
>> Perhaps you use yours faster than I use mine?

>
> Not likely, the flour I have right now I've had for years. Frank and
> I are diabetic, so carbs like flour, cornmeal, and grits are used
> sparingly. Maybe it has something to do with the climate I live
> in? It's colder here than where you are. *ponder* S'weird.


I nearly mentioned the difference in climate! It's humid here most of the
year.

Jill


  #18 (permalink)   Report Post  
jmcquown
 
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Siobhan Perricone wrote:
> On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 02:36:26 -0600, "jmcquown"
> > wrote:
>
>>> I don't do this, and I can't remember the last time I had critters
>>> in
>>> any of my grits, flour, cornmeal, etc.

>>
>> Perhaps you use yours faster than I use mine?

>
> Not likely, the flour I have right now I've had for years. Frank and
> I are diabetic, so carbs like flour, cornmeal, and grits are used
> sparingly. Maybe it has something to do with the climate I live
> in? It's colder here than where you are. *ponder* S'weird.


I nearly mentioned the difference in climate! It's humid here most of the
year.

Jill


  #19 (permalink)   Report Post  
Stark
 
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In article >, Hairy >
wrote:

> "Stark" > wrote in message
> ...
> > We don't eat them often. Usually with a dinner breakfast or shrimp and
> > grits, so they're a slow turnover in my pantry. I usually keep them in
> > a plastic container.
> >
> > Last night I opened a box-Quaker Quick- that had been around for a
> > couple of months and the critters were rife.
> >
> > Where do the little buggers come from? I've never had them show up in
> > my plastic containers, even after a year. And I can't remember ever
> > finding them in a reasonably fresh box. I'm talking 30 plus years of
> > moderate grits usage.
> >
> > Did I just get a bad batch? Or are all grits critter-prone? If so, do
> > my airtight containers prevent their development? And what does an
> > undeveloped critter look like? Just another grit?

>
> Don't worry about the critters. That's just the high protein version of
> grits. ;-)
> H
>


Well a steady boil curtailed all movement and a liberal grind of
5-peppercorn blend disguised their presence but I did notice a nuance
of coriander in the brown ones.
  #20 (permalink)   Report Post  
Rosemary Mastandrea
 
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hi all;;; put 2 bay leaf in all your containers you will never find a
bug

Thank you,

Rosemary

http://community.webtv.net/RM117/PERSONALITYMOVIE



  #21 (permalink)   Report Post  
Bob (this one)
 
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jmcquown wrote:

> Wayne Boatwright wrote:


>>Bob, I know it doesn't make sense, but it does seem to work. Thirty
>>odd years ago I had an infestation in my cornmeal, flour, grits, etc.
>>I've been keeping a bay leaf in each container ever since then and
>>have never had a problem. Coincidence? Maybe.
>>
>>Wayne

>
>
> I do the same thing with flour, cornmeal, even rice. I have no scientific
> study to back this up but for some reason the critters don't bother grain
> products containing a bay leaf or two. Been doing it for 25 years. If I
> forget to add the bay leaf, I get critters.


Lemme guess...

You don't have vampires either...?

Pastorio (oh, wait. That's garlic, right...?)

  #22 (permalink)   Report Post  
Bob (this one)
 
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Siobhan Perricone wrote:

> On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 09:31:19 -0600, "jmcquown" >
> wrote:
>
>>>Bob, I know it doesn't make sense, but it does seem to work. Thirty
>>>odd years ago I had an infestation in my cornmeal, flour, grits, etc.
>>>I've been keeping a bay leaf in each container ever since then and
>>>have never had a problem. Coincidence? Maybe.

>>
>>I do the same thing with flour, cornmeal, even rice. I have no scientific
>>study to back this up but for some reason the critters don't bother grain
>>products containing a bay leaf or two. Been doing it for 25 years. If I
>>forget to add the bay leaf, I get critters.

>
>
> I don't do this, and I can't remember the last time I had critters in any
> of my grits, flour, cornmeal, etc.


Well why would you. They've put out enough to protect you, too. See
how that works?

My grandmother did this and she didn't have critters. A few years ago
I got all the moths nobody else wanted. I didn't do the bay leaf
thing, I just threw out a lot of old stuff with pretty little webby
constructions in them. It might work, who knows...?

Pastorio

  #23 (permalink)   Report Post  
jmcquown
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Bob (this one) wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>
>> Wayne Boatwright wrote:

>
>>> Bob, I know it doesn't make sense, but it does seem to work. Thirty
>>> odd years ago I had an infestation in my cornmeal, flour, grits,
>>> etc. I've been keeping a bay leaf in each container ever since then
>>> and
>>> have never had a problem. Coincidence? Maybe.
>>>
>>> Wayne

>>
>>
>> I do the same thing with flour, cornmeal, even rice. I have no
>> scientific study to back this up but for some reason the critters
>> don't bother grain products containing a bay leaf or two. Been
>> doing it for 25 years. If I forget to add the bay leaf, I get
>> critters.

>
> Lemme guess...
>
> You don't have vampires either...?
>
> Pastorio (oh, wait. That's garlic, right...?)


Vampires aren't afraid of garlic, in fact, we - uh - they cook with it a lot


Jill (checking for her reflection in the mirror)


  #24 (permalink)   Report Post  
zuuum
 
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"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> Siobhan Perricone wrote:
>> On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 02:36:26 -0600, "jmcquown"
>> > wrote:
>>
>>>> I don't do this, and I can't remember the last time I had critters
>>>> in
>>>> any of my grits, flour, cornmeal, etc.
>>>
>>> Perhaps you use yours faster than I use mine?

>>
>> Not likely, the flour I have right now I've had for years. Frank and
>> I are diabetic, so carbs like flour, cornmeal, and grits are used
>> sparingly. Maybe it has something to do with the climate I live
>> in? It's colder here than where you are. *ponder* S'weird.

>
> I nearly mentioned the difference in climate! It's humid here most of the
> year.


Yes, climate definitely makes a difference. In cold climes insects are much
less of a problem since they suffer a setback every winter. In the tropics,
insects are not only more abundant, but generally larger too.

Especially in organic grain flours, as you would find in "natural foods"
store bulk bins, you often find tiny larvae just waiting to hatch. Most
people I know freeze organic grains and flours to suspend their development.

A bay leaf sounds like an effective preventative... sort of the same way
Cedarwood and Redwood resist termites.. there are oils present they are
averse to. Have you ever had the products pick up either odor or flavor.
Bayleaf is a fairly strong flavoring agent.


  #25 (permalink)   Report Post  
zuuum
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Rosemary Mastandrea" > wrote in message
...
> hi all;;; put 2 bay leaf in all your containers you will never find a
> bug
>


I can see how bayleaf would prevent bugs if the undeveloped larvae were not
already present. What if the larvae were already there dormant, in a sealed
container? I guess the question is, does bayleaf repell them or prevent
their development.... (effectively kill them before they grow large enough
to see them).




  #26 (permalink)   Report Post  
zuuum
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Rosemary Mastandrea" > wrote in message
...
> hi all;;; put 2 bay leaf in all your containers you will never find a
> bug
>


I can see how bayleaf would prevent bugs if the undeveloped larvae were not
already present. What if the larvae were already there dormant, in a sealed
container? I guess the question is, does bayleaf repell them or prevent
their development.... (effectively kill them before they grow large enough
to see them).


  #27 (permalink)   Report Post  
Dave Smith
 
Posts: n/a
Default

zuuum wrote:

> > I nearly mentioned the difference in climate! It's humid here most of the
> > year.

>
> Yes, climate definitely makes a difference. In cold climes insects are much
> less of a problem since they suffer a setback every winter. In the tropics,
> insects are not only more abundant, but generally larger too.


They may suffer a bit of a setback, but they have adapted to survive in a colder
climate. I invite you to travel to the the Canadian north in June and see how
the winter killed off all the mosquitos and black flies. I don't know where they
spend the winter, but when they come back they do so with a vengeance.


  #28 (permalink)   Report Post  
Wayne Boatwright
 
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On Thu 20 Jan 2005 12:26:55p, zuuum tittered and giggled, and giggled and
tittered, and finally blurted out...

>
> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Siobhan Perricone wrote:
>>> On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 02:36:26 -0600, "jmcquown"
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>>> I don't do this, and I can't remember the last time I had critters
>>>>> in any of my grits, flour, cornmeal, etc.
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps you use yours faster than I use mine?
>>>
>>> Not likely, the flour I have right now I've had for years. Frank and
>>> I are diabetic, so carbs like flour, cornmeal, and grits are used
>>> sparingly. Maybe it has something to do with the climate I live in?
>>> It's colder here than where you are. *ponder* S'weird.

>>
>> I nearly mentioned the difference in climate! It's humid here most of
>> the year.

>
> Yes, climate definitely makes a difference. In cold climes insects are
> much less of a problem since they suffer a setback every winter. In the
> tropics, insects are not only more abundant, but generally larger too.
>
> Especially in organic grain flours, as you would find in "natural foods"
> store bulk bins, you often find tiny larvae just waiting to hatch. Most
> people I know freeze organic grains and flours to suspend their
> development.
>
> A bay leaf sounds like an effective preventative... sort of the same way
> Cedarwood and Redwood resist termites.. there are oils present they are
> averse to. Have you ever had the products pick up either odor or
> flavor. Bayleaf is a fairly strong flavoring agent.


I use bay leaves in all my flours and grains, and have never noticed any
carryover of scent or taste.

Wayne

  #29 (permalink)   Report Post  
Wayne Boatwright
 
Posts: n/a
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On Sat 22 Jan 2005 02:42:37p, called across the abyss...

> On 19 Jan 2005 13:46:27 GMT, Wayne Boatwright > wrote:
>
>
>>
>>Bob, I know it doesn't make sense, but it does seem to work. Thirty odd
>>years ago I had an infestation in my cornmeal, flour, grits, etc. I've
>>been keeping a bay leaf in each container ever since then and have never
>>had a problem. Coincidence? Maybe.
>>
>>Wayne

>
> Do you like essence of bay leaf in your cereals?
> Alan Moorman


I've never noticed any flavor carryover.

Wayne
  #30 (permalink)   Report Post  
blake murphy
 
Posts: n/a
Default

On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 23:13:32 GMT, Siobhan Perricone
> wrote:

>On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 09:31:19 -0600, "jmcquown" >
>wrote:
>
>>> Bob, I know it doesn't make sense, but it does seem to work. Thirty
>>> odd years ago I had an infestation in my cornmeal, flour, grits, etc.
>>> I've been keeping a bay leaf in each container ever since then and
>>> have never had a problem. Coincidence? Maybe.

>>
>>I do the same thing with flour, cornmeal, even rice. I have no scientific
>>study to back this up but for some reason the critters don't bother grain
>>products containing a bay leaf or two. Been doing it for 25 years. If I
>>forget to add the bay leaf, I get critters.

>
>I don't do this, and I can't remember the last time I had critters in any
>of my grits, flour, cornmeal, etc.


but the critters are *afraid* you're going to do this...

your pal,
blake
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