Why do beans become infested and have insects?
Some cooking and food items in the kitchen have a longer shelf life than others, and beans are among them.Food itemsare types of food that need careful storage and must be kept in a cool, dry place to prevent insect infestation. Now, the question arises: where and under what conditions should we store beans to avoid infestation?
This is an important question for many housewives, and there are many methods to prevent bean infestation that should be learned and applied.
Beans are among the most important food sources, rich in calcium, iron, and minerals, playing a significant role in a healthy diet. Since they are widely used in cooking, we should also learn how to care for them. In this section, we have tried to introduce several care strategies for beans.
How to identify inedible beans
You can determine the edibility of beans through several methods. By testing each of the methods introduced in this section from SelMagz,you can understand this issue.Pay attention to the packaging of beans.
Pinto beans,
red beans,white beans,lentils,andsplits!Beans are used the most in cooking, so care in their storage is necessary. Buy beans in the right quantity and avoid purchasing them in excess.Beans can be stored for a year in a cool and dim environment. Care should be taken to ensure no air collects inside the packages. The quality of the beans is very important; sometimes, beans cook quickly, while other times they take longer. Climate conditions and seed type affect bean quality.Inedible beansThere are also other ways to check if beans have spoiled, such as removing dust, changes in color, and altering the shape of the beans.
Washing beans in boiling water
If we want a tastier dish, we should boil beans twice in boiling water before cooking and add them to the food at the end. If the storage location and conditions for beans are suitable, they can be used for a long time.
Crushing and breaking of beans during cooking is a sign of spoilage; if you find holes in the beans, it means they are infested. Therefore, avoid using them.
The reason for bean infestation
The reason for beans getting infested is that the eggs of certain insects exist on the beans, and if the storage conditions are not adequate, it creates an environment for infestation. After a while, tiny insects will become visible in the beans.
Prevention methods and solutions
for bean pests
If you want your beans to remain fresh, keep them in the freezer for 4 days to a week after purchase. Keeping beans at a temperature below zero will kill any tiny eggs they might have, preventing infestation.
Another solution is to place the beans on a baking tray, set the oven to 140 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes, allowing the heat to eliminate the eggs, and then store the beans in an airtight container.If you wish to store beans for a long time, add a few cloves to your container; this will prevent any insects from entering, even if the container is left open. Adding
- cloves
- to the bean container has no effect on the taste of the beans. You can also put a few garlic cloves in the rice container to drive away insects.
- An interesting way to keep beans safe is to place matchboxes next to them, as matchboxes contain sulfur, which insects dislike, causing them to stay away from the beans. You can also place small bags ofpepperin bean storage areas to keep the beans fresh for a longer time.
- The most well-known and simplest way to prevent bean infestation is adding salt, which helps keep beans from spoiling and being infested.If you have a large amount of beans purchased and want to store them longer, it’s better to place all beans in a strainer and expose them to direct sunlight for 48 hours.To repel insects from beans, you can also use ginger, turmeric, or garlic.
- Walnut leaves
- andbay leavesare also other options for repelling pesky insects from beans and rice.
- If you plan to keep rice and beans longer, it is advisable to store them at the right temperature in a cool and dry place.
- Methods to prevent rice weevilsOne of the simplest methods for pest control in rice is placing rice sacks on shelving. Ensure that the rice storage area is dry and cool and place the sacks on a shelf about 20-25 centimeters off the ground.It is good if the shelves are mesh or perforated to allow proper air circulation under the sacks. Avoid pressing the rice sacks against the wall to allow air to flow freely around them.The distance between the sacks and the wall should be 5 centimeters. Most warehouse owners use this method to prevent infestation.Pest control for beans
- Methods to eliminate bean pests
Bean pests
- Why do beans get insects
- Pests attacking beans
- Reasons for bean infestation
