Not only does pepper add a warm aroma and piquant flavor to dishes, helping to remove the fishy smell of many foods, its pungent essential oil and antibacterial properties also have other beneficial uses. Did you know the benefits of putting a handful of peppercorns in a rice bin? Try this handy tip.
What are the benefits of putting a handful of peppercorns in a rice bin?
If rice is not stored properly, it can easily be attacked by weevils. Especially during the rainy season, when the air is humid and the atmosphere has a high moisture content, rice is susceptible to weevil damage, losing its natural flavor and nutritional value.
To prevent this, you can put a handful of peppercorns in the rice bin, and the results will surprise you.
Peppercorns are an excellent insect repellent. They are also a natural fungicide. Simply drop a handful of peppercorns into the rice bin, and weevils will never dare to come near it again, and mold will also be less likely to appear.
Put a handful of peppercorns in a rice bin, and you’ll be surprised by the results. (Photo: bTaskee)
For best preservation, before storing the rice, thoroughly clean and dry the storage container. The rice bin should be kept in a dry, cool place to prevent it from being attacked by bacteria and mold.
Ideally, you should store the rice in a dedicated rice bin with a tight-fitting lid and keep it away from direct sunlight. Next, prepare a thin cloth bag (or cut a 2-layer mask at one end), fill it with pepper, tie it up, and bury it in the four corners of the rice bin, then close the lid tightly. The rice will not be attacked by weevils, mold, or mildew.
Note: Peppercorns will gradually lose their scent over time, so check and replace the pepper bag when necessary.
Some tips for keeping rice weevil-free
In addition to putting a handful of peppercorns in the rice bin, you can also refer to some of the following simple but effective tips for preserving rice, preventing mold, and weevils, and extending its shelf life.
Choose the right container
Storing rice in an airtight container is also a way to keep it weevil-free. (Photo: LoopMe Philippines)
After sifting and cleaning the rice, you can pour it into a sterilized storage container. There are many types of rice containers designed to be compact and can hold 10-40kg, making them convenient for use.
Also, since rice is dry and does not tolerate water, to keep it from getting weevils and mold and losing its nutritional value, you should store it in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid or a metal lid. You can use specialized food storage containers designed with a rubber gasket around the lid to ensure an airtight seal.
Store rice in the refrigerator
The temperature in the refrigerator is considered ideal for storing rice as it can effectively kill and prevent rice weevils. When you store rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator, the quality of the rice will not change, and it will be less likely to absorb other odors.
However, many households have refrigerators that are not very large, so the amount of rice that can be stored is quite small. Moreover, it can be challenging to fit a rice bin into the refrigerator. Therefore, you should divide the rice you have into smaller containers or zip-top bags and then place them in the refrigerator.
Use garlic
The pungent smell of garlic helps deter weevils. (Photo: Lowyat Forum)
Garlic contains allicin, a natural penicillin that can kill bacteria and prevent mold growth. Garlic has a pungent taste and a strong smell and is an effective insect repellent.
Take a few cloves of garlic and put them in the rice bin, then place it in a cool, dry place.
Use white wine with an alcohol content of over 41%
Many households use specialized bins to store rice. They are relatively airtight, which prevents insects from crawling in. However, if you want to keep the rice weevil-free, you should buy a bottle of white wine with a high alcohol content (over 41%), open the lid, and bury the bottle in the rice bin, with the mouth of the bottle protruding above the rice level, then close the lid of the bin and place it in a cool, dry place.
Alcohol evaporates quickly and also has a disinfecting effect, killing insects and preventing mold and weevils from appearing.
Store rice in an airtight container
Boxes, bins, or airtight bags are items you can use to store rice and keep it weevil-free. In addition to preventing weevils and mold, this is also an excellent way to extend its shelf life.
However, if you store rice in a bag, you must regularly check to ensure that the bag is not torn. And if you store rice in an airtight bin, you should not reuse paint cans, as many families do, as this is not good for your health. Instead, you can use a specialized rice bin.
To prevent the rice from getting moldy and weevily, place the rice about 20cm off the ground to allow for air circulation.
How to treat weevil-infested rice
If you discover that your rice has weevils, do not put it out in the sun. Weevils are afraid of light and will seek to hide rather than die. Sun exposure can also dry out and break the rice, making it less palatable.
Instead, gently sift the rice to remove the weevils, then spread the rice out in a cool, shaded area to encourage the remaining weevils to leave on their own. Once you have inspected the rice and ensured that all the weevils are gone, place the rice in a clean, dry bin and apply one of the methods described above.
If there are too many weevils in the rice bin, it means that a significant amount of the rice has been eaten and destroyed by them. In this case, you should not continue using the rice.
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