Groats are an extremely necessary food product. Groats are crushed or whole grains of mainly cereals and so-called cereal crops: oatmeal, buckwheat, semolina, barley, rice, millet, pearl barley, Wheat groats. There are also several types of cereals from legumes: peas, lentils.
Why are cereal dishes so useful? The thing is that food from cereals is a rich source of energy and nutrients! Porridge and other cereal dishes are especially necessary for our body in winter - the complex carbohydrates contained in them can warm our body no worse than a fur coat!
The benefits of cereals originate in the growth of cereals and legumes. Each ripe grain, filled with solar energy, is a valuable help to the life support of the body. Whole grains are an inexhaustible source of fiber, dietary fiber (i.e. substances that cleanse the intestines) and other elements. Those people whose diet includes at least 3-5 meals a week made from whole grains have a 20% lower risk of experiencing heart disease. The more dishes that include cereals in your diet, the more tangible this relationship is.
Each cereal has its own beneficial properties, and almost each of them can be used in dietary and preventive nutrition. Many cereals contribute to the removal of cholesterol from the body, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, improve the functioning of the heart, as well as the liver and gastrointestinal tract. Different cereals have slightly different beneficial properties, this must be taken into account when choosing cereals for your diet.
How to choose cereals?
How not to get lost in such a variety? How to choose the right cereal and enjoy this valuable product?
If you buy low-quality cereals, then dishes from it will be bitter and unpleasant, so be careful when choosing cereals.
If you decide to buy packaged cereals, then first of all check the integrity of the package. Pay attention to the expiration date. The "older" the cereal, the more bitter it will be after cooking. Take a look at the appearance of the cereal: there should not be lumps stuck together, otherwise this indicates the presence of food moths in it. There should be no foreign impurities in the groats.
It is very important to know the true color of any cereal. Semolina is white or cream, oatmeal is gray-yellow, regular millet is bright yellow. Fresh buckwheat is beige with a yellow tint. And if buckwheat has a brown color, it means that the groats have undergone heat treatment and there are few useful properties in it.
Rice is usually chosen according to the shape of the grain. The shape of the rice determines its taste. Long, transparent and thin grain will not stick together during cooking, the dish from it will always be crumbly. These rice grains are ideal for salads and side dishes. Round-grain rice is completely boiled, so choose it for cereals, desserts and casseroles.
The color of the rice also matters. Polished white rice cooks quickly, but it contains almost no vitamins. If you want to make a quick side dish of rice and get the most out of it, feel free to opt for clear yellow (parboiled) rice. The grains of such rice must be uniform in color. Brown rice is not a spoiled product at all, but on the contrary, brown varieties of rice are the most useful.
If you buy grits by weight, then you have the opportunity to smell the grits. The smell of mold and dampness is definitely not a sign of a quality product, especially cereals.
If you decide to check the quality of cereals from home stocks, then rinse some of the grains and taste the grains. If they are sweet and not bitter, congratulations, you have a fresh product in front of you.
Before use, the cereal must be sorted out and washed under running water, even if it is purchased in perfect packaging.
How to store cereals?
Many young housewives at first do not particularly bother about storing cereals, especially since now almost everyone buys it in special packages, and they store it in them.
True, from time to time such packs tend to tear, diverge, after which all the cereal is outside, falling asleep in the cabinet in which these packs were, or even scattered throughout the kitchen, if at that time the pack was simply on the table or in hands.
But this is not the main problem, much more serious - these are bugs that can start up in various types of cereals, and then there is nothing left to do but just throw out a whole pack, because porridge with insects is not the most pleasant sight.
Since cereals are a very useful and necessary product that should be present in the diet of any person who wants to lead a healthy lifestyle, we usually store them in considerable quantities and in various forms: buckwheat, rice, pearl barley, oatmeal, semolina, wheat groats and any other.
But, unfortunately, not everyone can boast of a large space where all this could be placed and arranged, because standard kitchens in our apartments do not allow much roaming around.
To avoid all these problems, as well as to be known as a good housewife, you need to figure out how to properly store cereals, because it turns out that even for such a case there are useful recommendations and tips.
Surely, many of us remember grandmother's mezzanines and kitchen cabinets, in which whole rows of three-liter bottles were lined up, filled with various cereals and pasta.
In fact, the idea is still the same, it’s just that progress is moving forward and the containers for storing cereals have changed and changed somewhat, they can be selected in accordance with the decor of your own kitchen, for every taste and color. But what containers are best suited for such purposes? Let's figure it out.
What are the storage containers for cereals?
- Metal jars. Of course, they look stylish and of high quality, but such containers have their own minus - they can easily rust, and this will not happen from water ingress, but simply, over time. Not only does it look ugly, but also the harmful oxidation processes will dissipate on your cereal, thereby not adding useful and taste properties to it, but rather the opposite. Another option is stainless steel jars, but such containers will most likely make your wallet much easier, which is also not always appropriate.
- Plastic - quite convenient and appropriate option, they often have an attractive appearance, and also boast an important plus - they are very light, which is why the load on the lockers is minimal. When there are 10 jars on one shelf, then, you know, this fact will play a significant role, in the truest sense of the word.
- Glass containers. Probably one of the best and optimal options. Modern glass jars for cereals have a stylish design, they may differ in price, but if you do not chase brands, you can choose a decent option at a very reasonable price. And in general, it is believed that ordinary jars with lids can also be used as containers for storing cereals, it’s not for nothing that our grandmothers and mothers did this, and in order to make them look beautiful and unusual, they are even decorated with their own hands, which we’ll talk about a few later.
- Ceramic containers. Also a great and very stylish option, it is believed that this is the best solution for storing any bulk products.
Naturally, all these containers must have a good airtight lid that will close tightly without leaving gaps. By the way, in addition to special containers, ordinary linen bags are excellent for such purposes, which must first be soaked in saline and then ironed. You can put the cereal in a bag directly into a glass or any other container, so you will definitely forget about bugs and other annoying insects.
secrets of storing different cereals
We figured out the containers, everyone made their choice, but that's not all. It turns out that in order for the cereals to be stored for as long as possible, and at the same time everything was done without bugs, as well as the occurrence of unpleasant odors, you need to resort to some tricks.
It turns out that not all cereals are stored equally long.
For example, rice can easily be stored for years, nothing will happen to it, but buckwheat groats can be stored for no longer than 20 months. Millet is not at all a long-liver, so that the porridge turns out tasty, it can be stored for no more than 4 months, otherwise the cereal will then be bitter and give off an unpleasant odor. Oat flakes also do not lie for a long time, optimally 4-5 months, especially if it is muesli with various additives.
In order to avoid bugs in rice, and also it does not give off a musty smell, put a pod of hot pepper in a container with it. If there is no pepper, then a few cloves of garlic will do, and you do not need to peel off the top skin from them.
Another method that is suitable for all cereals is the use of gauze bags of salt, which can be placed on the bottom of the container. Some housewives put dry bay leaves or lemon zest, which is also very effective.
It is also necessary to process the locker itself, where there are jars of cereals, so that some living creatures do not start in it. To do this, simply treat it with vinegar, and then lay out the pads soaked in lavender oil. Don't worry, the smell will go away quickly.
Another sure way, the success of which does not depend on what your semolina, buckwheat, rice or oatmeal is stored in, is not to be lazy immediately after buying the cereal, heat it in the oven, and then sift through a sieve. Another way is to put a bag of cereal in the freezer for a day, then the likelihood of insects is reduced to almost zero.
Damage to cereals affected by pests
Pests of cereal stocks, eating your cereal, pollute it with excrement, skins after molting and corpses, thereby filling the product with toxic properties. In such cereals, the content of protein, vitamins, lipids decreases, uric acid appears. Once in the human body, such cereals reduce the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood, increase vascular permeability. Also, there are changes in the parenchyma of the liver, kidneys, there is a possibility of allergies and disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
It is not allowed to lay the goods on the floor, as the product may sweat.
Groats are stored in warehouses at a relative humidity of no more than 75% and an air temperature of no more than 25 ° C. Oat flakes "Extra" according to STB are stored at a relative humidity of no more than 75% and an air temperature of no more than 20 ° C.
Sudden temperature fluctuations can cause part of the product to sweat, self-heating and mould. For long-term storage, it is better to use low temperatures - about 0 ° C.
From the moment the cereal arrives at the warehouse, a systematic control is established over the storage conditions, the condition and quality of the stored products. Control:
The temperature in the warehouse (thermometers installed at a height of 1.5 m from the floor);
Relative humidity in the warehouse (hygrometers, psychrometers, hygrographs, electronic psychrometers, etc., installed at a height of 1.5 m from the floor);
Cereal temperature (alcohol or electronic thermometers in a metal frame);
Taste, smell and color of cereals;
Pest infestation of cereals, equipment and storage facilities.
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During storage of cereals, there is a change in organoleptic indicators, rancidity, souring. With proper storage in dry cereals, self-heating and molding do not occur, but the processes of aging of high-molecular compounds, hydrolysis and oxidation of substances proceed, albeit slowly. The aging processes affect, first of all, the consumer properties of cooked porridge (the ability of cereals to swell during cooking, the duration of cooking and increase in volume).
For cereals, the following expiration dates are established from the date of manufacture:
Oat flakes "Extra" 6 months (STB);
Oat flakes "Hercules" and petal 4 months. (GOST);
Barley groats: barley groats 18 months, barley groats 15 months. (STB);
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Millet polished 9 months;
Semolina, corn, oatmeal 10 months,
Wheat groats (Artek, Poltava No. 3 and 4) 14 months;
Crushed rice, wheat Poltava No. 1 and No. 2 - 16 months;
Buckwheat, polished rice - 18 months;
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Buckwheat, chopped split peas - 20 months;
Cereal storage
Store cereals in dry, well-ventilated warehouses not contaminated by pests of grain stocks, observing sanitary rules. During storage, it is necessary to maintain a temperature not higher than 18 ° C (the optimum temperature is from -5 to 5 ° C) and a relative humidity of 60-70%, without sharp fluctuations. It is not allowed to store cereals together with pungent products. Storage time (in months): oatmeal and oatmeal - 4; polished millet - 9 (for southern regions - 6); semolina, corn, oatmeal - 10; barley groats - 15; wheat groats (Artek, Poltava No. 3 and 4) - 14; crushed rice, wheat Poltava No. 1 and 2 - 16; buckwheat, pearl barley, polished rice - 18; buckwheat, chopped split peas - 20; whole polished peas - 24.
The shelf life of imported quick-cooking cereals, depending on the technology and packaging used, can be from 6 to 12 months. The expiration date must be indicated on the packaging.
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Cereal storage
Conditions and terms of storage and transportation of cereals
Groats are suitable for long-term storage, they can be used at the place of production or transported over different distances, including long ones.
In the practice of storing cereals, it is necessary to take into account the same properties as those of the grain mass. Storage of cereals is carried out at cereal factories, warehouses and bases of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, less often - at bases, warehouses and trade and public catering enterprises.
Various methods are used to store cereals. The oldest and most common is the method of storage in textile containers, sewn from various fabrics. Use linen, jute, cotton and mixed bags with a capacity of 1 kg. Also, cereals are packaged in small containers of 1-3 kg, stored in boxes or boxes on pallets or racks.
Storage of cereals can be carried out both in heated and unheated warehouses, but always dry, clean, well-lit and ventilated, grain stocks not infected with pests, separately from pungent and perishable goods. Optimal parameters of the environment: relative humidity%, temperature from 5 to 15 °C.
Transportation of cereals over long distances is carried out in railway cars and vehicles. When transporting by rail, it is necessary to use absolutely dry, clean wagons that do not have foreign odors for loading products. In wagons, bags are placed on pallets at a distance of 0.5 m from the walls, leaving a passage between the stacks.
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During rail transportation, the natural loss of cereals should not exceed 0.09% for a distance of up to 1000 km and 0.13% for a distance of 1000 to 2000 km.
When transporting by road, it is also necessary to use dry, clean vehicles in which pungent-smelling substances have not been transported, soaking or contamination conditions must be excluded.
Transportation of cereals in containers is associated with high costs, packaging costs, the use of physical labor, and sometimes leads to spoilage and contamination of products. The transition to bulk storage and transportation according to the scheme: bagging bin of a groats plant -> wagon -> tank car -» receiving hopper of a packaging factory can provide greater savings and better preservation of cereals.
Packaging and labeling
Groats are usually packed in jute, flax-jute or cotton bags with a net weight of 65 to 70 kg. Each of them has a marking label made of paper or cardboard, which indicates the name of the product, its type, grade, net weight, production date and standard number. A significant part of the cereals are packaged directly at the groats factories in paper single-layer or cellophane bags of 900 g.
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How to store cereals: rules and terms
Grains and cereals can be stored for a very long time. But if the necessary conditions are not observed, they can become a habitat for small bugs, worms and other insects. To prevent this from happening, the hostess needs to know where to store cereals at home and how to do it correctly.
Capacity selection
Some inexperienced housewives store purchased bulk products in their original packaging. And this is their main mistake. Lack of tightness is the main reason for the appearance of insects. In addition, it is very inconvenient to store cereals in such containers. Over time, the package becomes unusable, and its contents may crumble.
To prevent bugs, cereal stocks are best stored in glass jars or special containers with airtight lids. A wide variety of containers are sold on store shelves, and each hostess will be able to choose containers to her taste.
Plastic containers are light, practical and convenient. When using them, the load on the locker will be minimal. Metal cans are beautiful and durable, but they have one significant drawback: rust spots can appear in them. Similar products made of stainless steel do not have this drawback, but they are also more expensive than other containers. Glass containers are convenient and beautiful, have a variety of designs. The best containers for storing cereals are ceramic containers. They are airtight, practical, pleasing to the eye with an attractive design. However, it is up to you to decide which container to give preference to.
Shelf life
Each cereal has its own shelf life. Stocks of rice should not be kept for more than 1.5 years. Keep it in closed jars or linen bags in a cool, dry place. And so that bugs do not start in the cereal, put 2-3 metal bottle caps or garlic in a container.
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The shelf life of quick-cooking cereals depends on the packaging and production technology and ranges from 6 to 12 months.
Millet does not lose its taste for only 4 months. If the cereal is stored longer, then before preparing the porridge, pour it with a solution of boiling water and soda (1 tsp of powder is needed for 1 liter of water), rinse thoroughly and dry.
It is advisable to use buckwheat in 20 months. To get the most out of it, roast it in a frying pan or in the oven beforehand.
The shelf life of semolina is 14 months. If after a long storage it has lost its taste, try frying it. The usual semolina porridge will be transformed.
Oatmeal does not have a long shelf life. They must be used up within 4-5 months. Especially if the cereal contains additives: fruits, berries, spices or cereals.
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The shelf life of quick-cooking cereals depends on the packaging and the technology of their production and ranges from 6 to 12 months.
Rules
- Be sure to pour purchased bulk products into special food containers.
- The storage location should be dry and dark with good ventilation.
- Optimal storage conditions - temperature from -5 to +5 ° C and humidity 60-70%. Make sure that the maximum temperature does not exceed +18 °C.
- Do not keep strong-smelling foods (smoked meats, spices, etc.) near cereals.
Folk tricks
Keep stocks of cereals in proper quality will help people's ingenuity. So that bugs and other insects do not start in bulk products, be sure to calcine them in a frying pan after purchase or keep them in the freezer for a day directly in the packaging from the manufacturer.
Some housewives prefer to put garlic cloves, bay leaves or lemon peels in containers with grains for the same purpose. Others, instead of pungent odors, use pieces of foil or ordinary tablespoons. It is enough to put them in the grits, and the bugs will bypass your stocks.
To protect rice from a musty smell that may arise from long storage, put a pod of red hot pepper in the container.
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In the winter season, bulk products can be transferred to the balcony. Low temperatures will not only protect them from bugs, but will also significantly extend the shelf life.
Take the above tips into service, and then uninvited guests will never start up in your stocks. Remember: in order to properly store cereals at home, you need to clearly know where and at what temperature it is better to keep them, what are the expiration dates for each type of grain.
How to properly store cereals
Not so long ago I wrote that it is very important to have a supply of food at home. This applies to absolutely everyone, regardless of material well-being, but especially economical people.
Home "bins" will save you from spontaneous trips to stores and insure in difficult times for the family.
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It is important to remember that this "strategic" stock should not only be replenished when used, but also updated from time to time, as each product has its own expiration date. Today we will discuss the question of how to properly store cereals.
Speaking about the expiration dates of cereals, or, as we used to say, “bulk” products, it is important to remember that we are talking about the expiration dates subject to storage conditions.
If the conditions are not met, then the shelf life, of course, is reduced.
Three storage conditions for bulk products
For cereals, flour and sugar, no special storage conditions are required.
There are only three of them. The place where you are going to store your supplies should be:
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The last condition is the most difficult, since in modern standard apartments there are no cool closets or any cellars suitable for storing food, and the lower the temperature, the longer the shelf life. The packaging usually indicates a temperature regime of no more than 20 degrees. Therefore, when looking for a place to store cereals and other products, you should try to find the coolest place in the house.
The container in which the products are stored also plays an important role. It should never be plastic bags. In them, cereals grow moldy and prey.
There are better options for storage. This:
- Paper bags
- Linen bags boiled in a strong saline solution
- Rigid containers - glass or plastic jars that are tightly (preferably hermetically) closed. It is convenient to store cereals in plastic bottles. They are hermetically sealed and it is very clearly visible what exactly is there and how it “feels”. Depending on the capacity of the bottles, you can choose the appropriate packaging (preferably pack in small portions)
Since we never know exactly how the cereals were stored until they were packaged, we cannot know with complete certainty whether they are not infected with some unpleasant living creatures.
Therefore, to be sure that no "kutska" will gobble up your stock, calcine the cereals in the oven or freeze them for 2-3 hours in the freezer. This will disinfect them.
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The flour must be sifted.
Previously, in the days of the Soviet Union, when strategic reserves were created, steel wire or steel nails were placed in cereals. Thanks to this, cereals were stored for decades. A very simple and affordable way that you can adopt for storing cereals at home. To prevent the nails from rusting, you do not need to wash them, but simply wipe them thoroughly with a soft cloth.
Additionally, as a safety net, in a container where cereals are stored, you can put chestnuts from moths and garlic cloves (not peeled) from larvae.
The larvae do not live in sugar, but ants can start. Dry orange peels placed in bags will help scare them away.
To keep the cabinets where cereals are stored dry, you can lay out bay leaves and small containers of salt in the corners, which absorb moisture very well and have disinfectant properties.
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Sugar dries out very quickly, you need to take special care of it. In no case should large bags be placed on the floor, a pallet is required. Make sure there is no source of moisture nearby.
If lumps still form in the sugar, it can be made crumbly again by heating these lumps in the microwave. Time 30 seconds, maximum temperature. At the same time, be sure to put a glass of water nearby, otherwise the sugar in the stove will simply burn.
By following these simple rules, you are much more likely to keep your stocks usable for the entire shelf life.
It is important to know that it is different for all products, so study the table below.
Table of shelf life of "bulk" products
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Even if outwardly the products do not change in any way, after the expiration of the shelf life they may become unusable, bitterness may appear.
Therefore, it is so important to follow all of the above rules. Stick stickers on the containers with the date of laying the product in order to use those cereals or flour in time, whose expiration date is coming to an end.
Well, if you overlooked something, and moth, mold or bugs started up - throw it away without regret - health is more expensive! Don't skimp on health! Feed the birds or pass it on to your friends who have chickens in the village.
But it’s better to prevent spoilage, control your stocks and update them on time.
Be healthy and economical.
And here are some other interesting articles of the site - read:
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What container should you store flour in? Also in a plastic bottle?
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How to get what you want without spending too much?
Conditions and terms of storage of cereals
In this article, we will address the following questions:
- Types of pests;
- How to choose cereals, the shelf life of cereals;
- Types of storage containers;
- How to store cereals, proven storage secrets;
- Bugs in flour, cereals and how to deal with them.
It’s not worth talking about the benefits of cereals, there are many amazing recipes for preparing a wide variety of dishes from cereals familiar to us: rice, buckwheat, semolina, oatmeal, barley, wheat, corn, barley, etc.
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We have been familiar with the taste and useful properties of various dishes from them since childhood. Many types of cereals are produced from various cereals and legumes. Which one gets on your table is a matter of your taste and preferences.
Many manufacturers show dishonesty, and sellers are often unscrupulous or too economical and are completely unwilling to rid their counters or store shelves of goods that have expired or for any other reason that they do not allow them to be eaten.
As a rule, insects in cereals start as a result of non-compliance with sanitary control at the factory: unscrupulous manufacturers often do not perform the necessary heat treatment of products, and also store them incorrectly. And even if you buy bulk products exclusively in vacuum bags, there is no guarantee that they do not contain living creatures.
Bugs in cereals can also start due to the wrong neighborhood - they can simply move from dried fruits, pasta, flour, tea, coffee, or even hot spices bought by weight and not immediately processed from possible pests.
Therefore, you should not blame yourself and doubt your own housekeeping and cleanliness if you have bugs.
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The most common way to get into the apartment is food and packages from the store. During production, the conditions, methods of packaging and transportation are often violated. All this leads to the appearance of bugs. It is very difficult to see insects in cereals at first sight, because they are small in size.
When buying cereals, try to monitor the quality of the purchased goods. Packaging with cereals should not be cloudy, especially dirty or with visible insects.
There are several types of kitchen insects found in flour, nuts, dried fruits, cereals, spices:
The most tenacious, prolific, voracious and unpretentious pests. It takes a lot of effort to get them out. These are small beetles (1.8-3.7 mm long) of a cylindrical shape from light brown to red-brown in color, covered with short silky hairs. Often in a dwelling where grinders are wound up, living or dead insects can be seen on the windowsills.
They like to eat dry products of animal and vegetable origin: various cereals, grains, tea, coffee, flour products, crackers, animal feed, biscuits, dried fruits, nuts, dry medicinal plants (even poisonous!) And tobacco.
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Traces of the presence of grinders can also be found in book bindings, herbariums, where they leave many passages, laying their waste products in them.
The special insidiousness of bread grinders lies in the fact that with a slight infection, their stay in the food substrate is secret - they do not show up. But with a high population density, pests can be found on windows, walls and on the floor indoors. The use of products in which bread grinders are wound up, especially without heat treatment, is harmful to health!
These are small (1.5-2.5 mm long) coleopterous insects of a rusty-yellow color, covered with small silky hairs with long, widely spaced antennae.
They make their way into apartments with poorly dried food and high humidity. If the room has good ventilation and a normal level of humidity, then pests cannot survive. Red flour-eaters, as a rule, live in industrial enterprises - mills, bakeries, feed mills.
The taste preferences of these bugs are rather limited - flour eaters do not damage products whose moisture content is less than 15-17%, they are mainly content with rotting flour or cereals (most often corn) and dry animal feed. Dry cereals and flour do not touch. Gathering in groups in products, flour-eaters increase their humidity, pollute them with excrement and shells from larvae. A characteristic sign of the presence of a flour eater is the flour sieves gnawed by it.
Insects have a characteristic elongated nose, and most often start up in pasta, flour products, rice, and buckwheat. Sometimes they eat legumes.
Small, reddish-brown beetles, only 3-3.5 mm in size, with short antennae, rounded sides and small wings (however, they cannot fly). These insects enter the kitchen from the brought bags of starch or flour, from where they spread throughout the territory, crawling into cracks, latches, loosely covered containers with dry products. Especially these beetles "respect" flour, rice, buckwheat, semolina, Artek cereals, millet and dried fruits. Under favorable conditions, flour beetles reproduce well, bringing up to four generations a year. Food damaged by the beetle becomes lumpy and, of course, unsuitable for food. Their use is fraught with the appearance of allergic reactions, indigestion or even poisoning.
Simple rules will help you not to make a mistake in choosing cereals:
- A categorical no "loose" or non-factory packaging. Groats in bulk are at least unhygienic. It is best to choose a transparent factory packaging, through which you can clearly see whether all the grains are equally whole and whether there are impurities. In addition, in sealed packaging, cereals are stored longer.
- No lumps. Make sure that the cereal is not caked - this is the result of improper storage - next to water, as a result, the cereal gains moisture and the taste becomes worse.
- Pay attention to the smell! There should be no foreign smells in the cereal, each cereal has its own aroma, but none should smell of dampness or mold. If you smell honey, then there are ticks. Any cereal, if it is fresh, tastes sweet and only oatmeal can be slightly bitter.
- There should be no husks and bugs in the cereal, and crushed grains should not come across among whole grains - this may indicate that pests have already settled there.
- Try to always pay attention to the date of manufacture, because the longer the cereal lies, the more likely it is that it has begun to deteriorate. Remember that in the first half of the year, before harvesting, we buy cereals that have already lain at least since last year. And in the old cereals, moths and bugs can start, and it starts to taste bitter, this is especially true for millet.
Shelf life of some cereals in months:
wheat, rice and barley -12,
Of course, so that the cereal does not deteriorate, you need to store it properly.
Containers with tight lids, in dry pantries or boxes without foreign odors, are best suited for this. It is better not to store cereals at home in the manufacturer's cellophane packaging or in fabric bags. Ideal in glass or ceramic containers with tight-fitting lids.
It will also be good for cereals in a plastic container, especially if it is equipped with rubber gaskets for a tighter fit of the lid.
Metal boxes for storing cereals and flour quickly rust and do not provide the necessary tightness.
It is not worth storing cereals and other types of groceries for a long time. Over time, the fats contained in the cereal become rancid, the taste deteriorates, and the nutritional properties are reduced.
Containers should not be placed in direct sunlight. Hide them in the closet - so your cereal will be whole. For greater safety, you can put a couple of cloves of garlic, chili pepper or bay leaf in a container with cereals, which bugs do not like very much. A bag of salt, which protects the cereal from moisture, will not be superfluous.
But keep in mind that even perfectly “packed” cereals cannot be stored forever.
After the purchase, some housewives recommend frying the cereal in the oven. This will not harm the quality of the cereal, but it will be possible to get rid of the larvae of the bugs, if they are still in the cereal. Others advise keeping cereals in the freezer. There is logic here - the cold is fatal for both bugs and larvae. You don’t need to keep cereals in the freezer all the time, 48 hours is enough. If it happens in winter, take the cereal to the balcony - it's more convenient, because there is more space and the freezer will be free.
In any case, freshly bought cereals should be checked. Although measures are taken in production to prevent insect contamination of cereals, troubles happen quite often. Even in seemingly clean cereals there may be larvae. Therefore, an important piece of advice to housewives is not to neglect to check the newly purchased cereals and, from time to time, your containers and cabinets with cereals.
How to get rid of bugs in flour?
Small portions of spoiled cereals do not have to be thrown away. First, they should be sifted on a fine sieve, then dried in an oven, heated to 110 ° C.
How to get rid of flour bugs and pests in semolina?
Spoiled products are placed on the balcony (in the winter season) or in the freezer for 48 hours. Then they are also sieved. It is flour and semolina that do not change their taste after such processing.
What to do if insects are wound up in peas or legumes?
Pour the cereal with salted water and leave for 5-10 minutes. After that, drain the liquid with emerging insects and their larvae, and dry the products.
Large quantities of cereals, where pests are wound up, are better to be completely thrown away. The waste products of pests are dangerous and cause significant harm to humans.
With the current availability of cereals, the easiest and most reliable way to get rid of pests is to throw away the affected cereal. If some cereals were stored in leaky packaging, then it is highly likely that the bugs made their way into all open packages. Even if there are no visible insects, they could lay eggs. Therefore, the main advice is to clear the cabinets of all cereals that were stored in leaky containers. And those products that were stored correctly should be carefully checked and it is advisable to carry out preventive treatment.
If for some reason you do not want to get rid of all leaky bags and containers, you can follow the tips described above and try to deal with pests yourself. Important. If the degree of damage to the product is high, it must be discarded.
If bugs are found, it is imperative to get rid of them not only in products, but also in furniture
They can be destroyed only with the complete elimination of larvae and laid eggs. Empty the cabinets from containers and bags, sweep out all the spilled flour, cereals, and wipe all the shelves with a solution of vinegar (one spoonful per liter of water). You can exterminate pests in cracks and hard-to-reach places with boiling water. Containers from cereals and flour are also thoroughly washed and doused with hot water. It will be sufficient to wash the containers in the dishwasher.
On the shelves of cabinets where cereals are stored, you can put small fabric bags with Persian chamomile or lavender (you can search in pharmacies), it is harmless to humans, and poison to bugs.
But the best pest control is prevention. Maintain cleanliness in food storage cabinets, use airtight containers. Periodically check the cereals for pests, and wipe the cabinets with a solution of vinegar and water.
Don't buy groceries. Buy bulk materials in small portions, but more often. Then, in any case, the bugs will not have time to settle in your products.
Try to keep the kitchen always dry and warm, high humidity is the best environment for various harmful insects.
Check the expiration date when buying.
For information on how to get rid of food moths, read the following publications.
I. Tikhonov "The Big Book of Soviet Economics". Moscow, AST, 2016
Bogatyrev S.A. "Technology of storage and transportation of goods"
We store cereals correctly.
Secrets of a good hostess
Semolina, buckwheat, rice, millet, barley at home are stored in a dry, clean room with a constant temperature, well protected from rodents. Before storing, the cereals are dried, spreading a thin layer on a sheet of paper, then they are poured into cloth bags or paper bags.
It is systematically necessary to check the cereal for taste and smell, and when barn pests appear, put it on a baking sheet, dry it in the oven or oven, air it, pour it into clean bags, and wash and dry the infected container.
In cases where cereals are stored in non-residential premises, the following method of protection against insect pests can be used: 50 g of chloroform is poured into a small blunt bottle, tightly sealed with a wooden cork, then the cork is pierced through with an injection needle, after which the bottle is placed inaccessible to children place. Chloroform vapors protect cereals from infection by insect pests.
You can also protect cereals from damage by insect pests using dried calendula flowers, scattering them on the shelves where bags of cereals are stored.
Since cereals and flour are hygroscopic products (capable of absorbing large amounts of moisture), they can become damp when the air humidity rises. Molding of these products can occur when relative humidity exceeds 75%.
Rancidity of cereals and flour occurs due to the decomposition of fats and oxidation, which results in the formation of a rancid smell and taste. Humidity, heat and light contribute to rancidity of products. The grains of millet, oats and corn are most susceptible to this process.
Considering the factors listed above, we can conclude that the optimal storage time for cereals and flour in winter is 6-8 months, and in summer no more than three months.
Ideal storage for cereals is glass jars with a tight-fitting lid. In such a container, you will always have fresh, uninfected cereals, and there will always be cleanliness and order in the cabinets in your kitchen.
If you find bugs in your stored products, but you have no time to wash the cereal and sift the flour to get rid of these insects, put the cereal and flour in the freezer for a day. Or, if it's cold outside, take it out to the balcony. All the bugs will freeze, and you just have to rinse the cereal and sift the flour from their remnants before cooking.
The best packaging for storing cereals at home are linen bags boiled in a strong salt solution. The fabric will not allow the cereal to suffocate, and the salt will not allow insects and mold to penetrate inside the bag.
From the bugs that got into the bag along with the grits, peeled cloves of garlic placed in the corners of the bag will help.
Oatmeal, oatmeal, millet, buckwheat are best stored in a cool place, no more than + 15-18 "C. These cereals contain vegetable fats, which oxidize under the influence of heat and the cereal acquires a bitter taste.
Don't throw away the silica gel sachets you found in your shoes. Putting them in a cupboard where you store cereals, sugar, and flour will help keep these foods at a minimum moisture content.
To remove insects caught in cereals, there is only one acceptable remedy - ordinary water. The cereal must be washed several times with water; in this case, the bugs, as a rule, float to the surface, after which they are easy to remove. You can do the same with pasta. As for the flour, it should be sifted twice through a fine sieve.
My personal experience: First of all, all sorts of weevils-moths start up in my beans and quite quickly. Last fall, I bought beans, packaged them in plastic bottles (there was no free glass containers - although I suspect that plastic bottles can evaporate something into the contents), put 2-3 peeled garlic cloves into the bottles and everything is great!
It didn’t work for me to ignite the cereal - I forget about it (((, and then the taste of rice turns out to be very strange.
Some more tips found on the sites:
You can wash the weevil bugs, but their waste products will remain - and they are toxic. So it is better to give such grain to familiar birds, pigs.
Lockers can be disinfected for prevention with saline, vinegar, baking soda.
In lockers for the prevention of livestock, you can put not only calendula, but also dry tansy, lavender or mint. And you can cotton buds with essential oils of these plants.
Look like that's it. I look forward to your advice, share your experience, hostesses!)))
Any housewife has at home a small supply of products that can be used to prepare a variety of dishes. These, of course, include cereals: side dishes rich in fiber and vitamins are prepared from them, cereals, added to first courses and pastries.
When storing cereals, special conditions must be observed, in violation of which the natural product loses its taste and becomes a habitat for insects.
Groats - a food product obtained from whole or crushed grains of legumes (lentils and peas), cereals (wheat, barley, oats, rye) and cereals (buckwheat, rice, corn, millet) crops. Grain processing consists of several stages:
- removal of impurities;
- removal of the shell;
- shaping: flattening, dissection;
- heat treatment (steaming, for example).
Each type contains vitamins, fiber, useful for humans, so this product should be in everyone's diet.
V different countries favor different cultures. On the territory of the countries of the former USSR, buckwheat, semolina, rice, pearl barley, and millet are most loved.
All types of cereals are a natural hygroscopic product, demanding on the conditions in which it is located:
- Temperature.
From 0°C to 20°C, the optimal range is 5-15°C. At negative temperatures, the properties and taste of any cereal remain the same; in a warm place, the product begins to taste bitter after a short period of time.
- Humidity.
Should not exceed 60%, this is the maximum value at which the cereal remains usable. However, the product can withstand 100% humidity, but for a short time.
Absolutely not suitable for storing cereals is a warm, open, well-lit room with high humidity. Under such conditions, the taste of the product deteriorates and insects start up in it: bugs, food moth.
The shelf life of different species is different, this criterion depends on the percentage of fat in it. The more high-calorie the cereal, the faster it becomes unusable due to a change in the taste of fat (it begins to taste bitter).
How can you keep cereal for a long time at home
The rules for storing cereals are prescribed at the legislative level. According to the requirements of SanPin, products should be stored in dry rooms in linen bags or cardboard boxes, placing them above 15 centimeters from the floor and further than 20 from the wall.
These requirements must be observed in retail outlets and catering establishments. At home, it is enough to create conditions close to the recommended ones, the safety of cereals will ensure the correct choice of location, capacity and regular checks.
In what banks to store?
Groats are sold by weight, or in industrial packaging made of polyethylene, paper or cardboard. Some housewives leave the product in such a package, which is not very practical: fragile packages are easily torn, and the contents can spill out. Containers made of polyethylene have another drawback - the products in it simply suffocate due to the lack of air circulation.
It is much more practical to keep cereals in hermetically sealed containers made of materials such as:
- Glass.
For several generations of women, bulk products have been stored in glass jars. Such a container does not allow moisture and foreign odors to pass through, protects against the penetration of pests. Many manufacturers of tableware produce glass containers for cereals of different sizes with a variety of designs. The cost of such containers is high, so they can be replaced with conventional banks. Disadvantages of glass containers: heavy weight and fragility.
- Metal.
Metal containers are another traditional flour storage option. Such a container can provide all the conditions for long-term storage of products, but has one significant drawback. Over time, rust damages the walls, changing the taste of cereals and infecting it with bacteria. Stainless steel jars are deprived of this drawback, but not everyone can afford them.
- Tree.
Jars made of this material are light, allow the cereal to breathe, but also absorb odors and moisture.
- Ceramics.
Glazed porcelain containers are considered ideal for storing cereals, however, they are quite heavy and cannot withstand accidental bumps.
- Plastic.
Today, most housewives prefer to store cereals in plastic containers. In stores, you can find sealed containers of various sizes and shapes with a dispenser. Light weight allows you to place several types of bulk products on a shelf in the kitchen without overloading the cabinet.
- Natural fabrics.
Linen and cotton can be used to make cereal bags. This packaging looks original and takes up little space.
To protect against the penetration of insects, it is recommended to hold the bags in a strong salt solution and iron them at high power. The only drawback of such packaging is instability to an increase in humidity levels.
As you can see, the industry offers a huge number of options for storing cereals, among which anyone will find something suitable for themselves in terms of design and cost. However, a needlewoman can show her imagination and decorate ordinary jars and containers on her own, turning them into a designer product.
Where to store?
In a private house or apartment, stocks of cereals can be stored in several places:
- Kitchen cabinets.
Kitchen tables are preferable to wall cabinets: the temperature and humidity are slightly lower, there are no sharp changes in these indicators.
- Refrigerator or freezer.
- Dry pantry.
- Glazed balcony or loggia.
Keep the product in these places in sealed packaging, away from products with a pronounced odor.
How long cereals are stored with proper storage
The storage requirements for all cereals are the same, but, even if they are met, the period is different:
- oat flakes - up to 4 months;
- millet - 9 months (in the warm season, no more than 6 months);
- semolina and corn flour- 8-10 months;
- wheat processed in different ways (bulgur, artek) - 12-14 months;
- barley groats - 14-16 months;
- pearl barley and buckwheat (chopped), polished rice - up to 1.5 years;
- split peas, buckwheat (unground kernel) - 20 months;
- polished peas - up to 2 years;
- steamed rice - up to 2.5 years.
Please note that the dates are set from the time of production, not purchase.
Several ways to extend the shelf life and prevent bugs and other pests from getting started
How long the cereal will remain suitable for food depends primarily on its quality at the time of purchase. When choosing this product, it is important to follow some rules:
- Avoid buying bulky items.
This method of storage in retail outlets cannot ensure compliance with sanitary standards. Dust, waste products of people, animals, insect larvae, mold spores and much more get into the grain.
To see the quality of the product, you can stop at the transparent factory packaging.
- When purchasing a product by weight, it is necessary to evaluate it visually, perhaps smell it or pass it through your fingers. The product should not have lumps, foreign smell.
- Groats should be approximately the same size, foreign particles are excluded.
- Pay attention to the expiration date. It is advisable to purchase a product made no more than 2-4 months ago.
Even the factory packaging does not guarantee the absence of insects and other impurities in the product, so at home it is necessary to sort out the cereal or sift through a sieve to prevent bugs from starting. To destroy potential pests, cereals can be further processed in one of the following ways:
- withstand several hours (you can day) in the freezer;
- sprinkle on a baking sheet with a layer of 2-3 centimeters and bake in the oven at a low temperature (no more than 50 degrees).
After that, the product is poured into dry containers and tightly closed with a lid.
Even if all storage rules are observed, there is a risk of infection of cereals with bugs. To prevent this, experienced housewives put products with a strong odor in containers:
- Bay leaf;
- hot pepper;
- orange or lemon zest;
- fragrant herbs;
- unpeeled garlic.
A canvas bag of salt placed in a jar of cereal will also save you from insects. The substance will not scare away the bugs, but it will absorb excess moisture, which creates all the conditions for unwanted guests.
Some housewives believe that when insects appeared in the cereal, it is not necessary to throw out the product, it can still be saved.
Rescue Measures:
- Sort buckwheat and rice, rinse with cold water and dry in the oven.
- Sift semolina and hold at sub-zero temperatures for two days.
The second option is to pour a little salted water and wait for the larvae to float to the surface.
- Millet can be poured with boiling water, kept for 3-4 hours. Then change the water to cold, adding a teaspoon of soda to it. The grits are carefully rubbed in the hands, washed and dried in the oven.
Insect-infested grits become toxic due to the excrement and body parts of the pests they contain. The nutritional value and taste of the product decreases, after eating such cereals, the composition of the blood changes, the risk of allergies and intestinal disorders increases.
Given these data, you need to take a more responsible approach to organizing storage, and get rid of infected residues.
After finding insects in one of the containers, you need to inspect the rest. The container in which the contaminated product was located must be washed with detergent and poured over with boiling water. All surfaces of the cabinet or pantry also need to be treated with a solution of vinegar - a tablespoon per liter.
Cereals are an integral part of the diet of every family. To get the maximum benefit from the product, you need to follow the storage conditions - protect from moisture, high temperatures and regularly inspect to detect insects.
In the diet of most of our compatriots, it is cereals that occupy a special place. Moreover, if we take into account the fact that the level of their cost is far from minimal, one should take into account as many features as possible to approach the process of storing cereals.
Fundamental rules
Properly store cereals at home so that moths do not start, our ideas and recommendations will help you. According to many experts, the most favorable option is to store cereals in those bags (mainly paper or plastic) in which they were previously sold. The only drawback is their poor quality. But replacement is necessary only in extreme cases. Semolina is perfectly stored in plastic bottles or tins. Containers for buckwheat are containers.
Before putting the product into storage, it is necessary to carefully inspect and sort it out. A common and not too pleasant phenomenon may be the presence of many small insects in the croup. If the cereal is not sorted out and subsequently dried at an average temperature in the oven, you may encounter the reproduction of various spiders and their spoilage of other food products. If this was found in rice, the pack with cereals must be placed in the freezer for a day. This will at the same time help both to get a victory over the spiders, and to fully preserve all the useful substances.
Everyone who at least once sought to make significant stocks of cereals was faced with the fact that small insects began to climb out of it over time. This problem can be overcome by using traditional folk remedies. For example, at the bottom of the shelf on which the containers will stand, spread dried calendula. An alternative option may be garlic cloves placed at the corners of the corresponding place.
It is necessary to approach the implementation of such a recommendation only on the condition that all cereals are stored in hermetically sealed containers, which minimizes the risk of impregnation with an extraneous odor. Another general rule for storing cereals is to prevent the location of strongly smelling substances (household chemicals, spices) nearby.
Location selection
At the present stage of development of the design of premises, including kitchens, there are many options for ensuring the storage of cereals. Someone acquires special coasters for this (depending on individual preferences, as well as skills, they can be made independently), someone uses specially designed shelves for this, which can be considered as original version interior additions.
In any case, you need to remember that a hassle-free approach should be provided to the place where the containers with cereals are located, the hostess should be able to get to it without any discomfort. When storing cereals, it is necessary to take into account the need to avoid direct sunlight, as well as sharp fluctuations in the level of humidity and room temperature.
Temperature and Humidity
Almost every person at least once in his life has encountered such a phenomenon as rancid cereals. One of the most common factors that provoke its occurrence is just too high humidity. To preserve such products in a normal state, it is necessary that it does not exceed 65–70%.
Sometimes, under the influence of a number of external factors, the level of humidity can fluctuate, which affects the cereals accordingly. Therefore, it is necessary to pour them out at least once a month and carefully examine them. If an unpleasant taste or smell comes out, you must immediately discard the product, and rinse the container well using special disinfectants.
As for the temperature regime, its optimal performance should vary from +15 to +20 degrees. It must be remembered that cereals are capable of maintaining the temperature in which they were before for a long period. Therefore, if they have been in the sun for a long period or, conversely, in a room with a relatively low temperature, it is worth leaving the cereal in the room at room temperature and after that ensure it is properly stored.
How to choose a container?
Depending on the container in which the cereal is stored, its taste, as well as the duration of preservation, depend. The most common materials used for the manufacture of appropriate dishes include the following:
- glass;
- ceramics;
- linen or cotton fabric;
- tree;
- food plastic.
The need to preserve the product in the container in which it was purchased has already been noted. At the same time, the use of ordinary plastic bags, especially if they are not tightly closed, is not desirable. There is a risk that the cereal will mate, which will adversely affect its palatability. Many people prefer to store products in special glass containers, since in this case there is no penetration of foreign odors, as well as moisture. The main thing is that you can prevent the occurrence of pests that cause significant harm to food.
Some companies strive to produce such containers in different volumes and taking into account the original design approach, which allows the most daring and non-standard approaches to solving the problem of decorating the room to be implemented in the kitchen. The negative point is the significant cost of such containers, so ordinary glass jars can be a replacement option. Initially, they must be thoroughly washed to get rid of odors, and dried. Another negative point may be increased fragility, as well as high weight. Handle such a container with extreme care to avoid cracks and glass particles getting into food.
A kind of prototype can be plastic containers for storing cereals. When choosing them, it is important to pay attention to the fact that they are made of a material that can be used to store food. Most of them are equipped with a special dispenser, which makes it possible to make the process of pouring cereals more acceptable and faster. Due to their low weight, many jars can be placed in kitchen cabinets without the risk of overloading the cabinet.
Our mothers and grandmothers used iron containers to store cereals. Despite the fact that at first glance they seem quite reliable, the process of using them must be extremely careful. For example, it must be remembered that they can succumb to rust. If the relevant elements get into the product, it can be considered completely unfit for consumption. A controversial option for high-quality storage of cereals are containers made from various types of wood. It seems that they are completely environmentally friendly and easy to use, but it is wood that actively absorbs odors, which can cause irreparable harm to the product.
It is believed that containers for storing cereals made of ceramics help to maintain all the necessary qualities for a long period. This is true, but the material itself is very heavy and brittle, which creates additional problems in its application. For many centuries, storage took place in cloth bags made of linen, it is desirable to first wash them in salt and then iron them, which will help protect them from insects. This option is especially favorable for flour, millet and oats. A significant disadvantage can be considered instability to moisture.
Best before date
Contrary to popular belief that all cereals have the same shelf life and storage conditions, in reality the situation is completely different. Of course, it must be remembered that everything depends on the endurance of technological processes, as well as on the type of product. If we talk about the most common options, in this case, the following terms are observed:
- wheat groats, the processing of which took place in different ways, can be stored for no more than 16 months;
- barley porridge has a similar shelf life;
- rice - the maximum shelf life of nutrients and taste is one and a half years;
- oat flakes are suitable for use no more than 4 months from the moment of their preparation; if we are talking about muesli (depending on how well the dried fruits are prepared), the period under consideration can be reduced several times;
- peas that have undergone the grinding process and rice that has been steamed are used for 2.5 years.
Important! Every decent manufacturer must indicate the date of manufacture, the duration of storage and the conditions under which the product can retain its positive qualities. Deviation from these standards may indicate a decrease in the shelf life, but in no case about its increase.
Danger of improper storage
If you store food and do not take into account the level of humidity, you can notice a significant risk of the occurrence and rapid development of mold. In addition to the fact that it destroys products, giving them a not too pleasant taste and smell, there is an active production of toxins. Eating cereals contaminated with mold can cause severe poisoning, and sometimes life threatening. Previously, attention was drawn to the high risk that insects can start in this category of products.
In addition to the not very aesthetically attractive appearance of products, they also provoke their poisoning and almost complete unsuitability for human consumption due to the high content of waste products.
Most cereals, despite the fact that their expiration date has long expired, do not change their appearance. But such products no longer contain the required amount of vitamins and minerals, and their taste also leaves much to be desired. Everyone who seeks to purchase products for the future should make appropriate notes on all containers, which will display the date of the bookmark. Then it will become much easier to organize a normal nutrition process.
In order to avoid expired products in the kitchen, it is necessary to conduct an audit in the kitchen at least once every six months, examining all expiration dates. By the way, if cereals are stored next to seasonings with a strong odor, you must be aware of the increasing risk of food allergies.
Among many housewives, there is an opinion that it is best to store cereals in the refrigerator, as this will help save it from both the arrival of insects and the loss of nutrients. In fact, this does not correspond to reality, and excessive hypothermia, just like drying the product, can lead to its faster spoilage and the loss of a significant part of the nutrients. In the case of purchasing cereals by weight, and not in a package sealed at the factory, it is necessary to smell it well and pass it through your fingers.
In no case should there be extraneous odors, lumps and, so to speak, the feeling of dirty hands. Otherwise, it is necessary to abandon the idea of acquiring such low-quality products.
When studying cereals sold already packaged, it is necessary to pay attention to whether there are extraneous inclusions (a number of unscrupulous producers can sell a surrogate), whether the packaging is intact. Despite the fact that on the Internet you can find a whole range of measures that ensure the rehabilitation of cereals after damage by insects, it is best not to risk it.
It must be remembered that even minor particles of vital activity can lead to negative consequences in the form of health problems.
For information on how to store cereals so that bugs do not start, see the next video.
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