What are you getting rid of in your pantry?

[Frozzie]

why not just grow the real thing?? from what i read its the unripened flower bud of a caper plant then salted and put in brine?? im sure you can find the plant or seeds somewhere to grow your own..fantastic thing about the WWW ..gives us access to so much worldwide..

[sue_h]

Great suggestion. I just looked into it and it  unfortunately it doesn't appear that the tropics are the ideal habitat for this species. If someone from the tropics has had success I'd love to give it a go.  Tried growing my own bay tree once but with no success.

[meganjane]

I have a post on my blog which comments on this very issue. Thermomix Savings

Although I took a lot out of my pantry, I also added a lot. Various different types of flour, seeds, nuts, loads of spices etc.

Thanks for the brown sugar recipe, dede. Although, I just bought a 5kg container of brown sugar.

[cookie1]

This has been an interesting read. The thing I want to get out of my pantry at the moment is the PANTRY MOTHS, I'm sure they weren't there when I went to Singapore. It looks like a big clean out coming. Not before time. They were in my pine nuts-horrid things.

[CreamPuff63]

oh I second that wholeheartedly and thank goodness cookie I am not the sole breeder of these pests!!  (they cause me so much grief, and have even marked my new ceiling and woven larvae on the ceiling cornices - which makes a mark when you brush it down) I have no room in my fridge because I have put all the nuts, dried fruit and whatever else I can cram in there to prevent another outbreak. I even freeze my flour before using it as that is supposed to kill off the eggs. I use those sticky tents, and that has been the only thing that can sort of keep the numbers down.

[andiesenji]

This has been an interesting read. The thing I want to get out of my pantry at the moment is the PANTRY MOTHS, I'm sure they weren't there when I went to Singapore. It looks like a big clean out coming. Not before time. They were in my pine nuts-horrid things.

Pine nuts should always be stored in the freezer, not only because of bugs but because they become rancid so quickly. 
The pinion pines grow all over the Sierras and there is a big processing plant in Bishop, CA that I buy from and they include a paper with the nuts stating that they should be used immediately or stored in the freezer. 

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

That's good to know Andie. Thanks. 

[cookie1]

Thanks Andie. I sort of know those sorts of things but my freezer is overflowing and I really can't fit much more in it. DH BOUGHT all these rolls when we were away and goodness knows what and put them in the freezer. I will manage to fit my nuts in some how though.

Like you CP63 I have little tents every where and also marks on the wall and ceiling where I go crazy and smash the moths. Do you think it is the long hot time we are having that is causing them to be worse this year? I haven't had them for years and years.

[judydawn]

I was wondering the same thing Cookie, plus the humidity as well?

[Very Happy Jan]

pantry moths are a real pain but I'd rather have them than cockroaches. I saw 2 cockies in my kitchen in 2 days so off to the shop for bombs. Spent $50 on cockroach bombs and the next morning only found 2 dead cockies 

[Cornish Cream]

pantry moths are a real pain but I'd rather have them than cockroaches. I saw 2 cockies in my kitchen in 2 days so off to the shop for bombs. Spent $50 on cockroach bombs and the next morning only found 2 dead cockies 

Expensive cockroaches at $25 each.

[AmandaN]

We have pantry moths too.   I thought I had gone through everything.....and then yesterday I was thinking of making potato and quinoa soup, and the quinoa was infested!  And I cannot believe some of the the things they get into!  I have had them in the sistema containers (and I had convinced myself they were great!), and even tupperware, unopened packets of things like pasta. I even had a single larva in an unopened jar of tomato paste!

I would rather a few cockroaches than these pesky things and their larva!

[GoneCrazY]

oh gosh ...touch wood i have never had those !!
sounds like they can cause havock getting into even unopend items
out of interest where do u ladies live that are having pantry moth problems ?
how can u tell if they are likley to come into ur kitchen ?
im quiet paranoied of them now lol

We have pantry moths too.   I thought I had gone through everything.....and then yesterday I was thinking of making potato and quinoa soup, and the quinoa was infested!  And I cannot believe some of the the things they get into!  I have had them in the sistema containers (and I had convinced myself they were great!), and even tupperware, unopened packets of things like pasta. I even had a single larva in an unopened jar of tomato paste!

I would rather a few cockroaches than these pesky things and their larva!

[CreamPuff63]

we live in Perth, western australia. Not sure if there is something already in packets when you buy them, hence why I freeze my flour & rice etc before I put into the cupboard as I heard this kills off the 'eggs'. what happens is you notice 1 or 5 moths and then bang! its the beginning of an infestation -- so there is a 'mother load' just starting off somewhere in the cupboard. 99% of my stuff is in plastic containers which helps contain the moths if they are already inside, otherwise an opened packet somewhere...they're called 'free range' moths as they can move around 

[judydawn]

How big are these moths CP?  I don't know how many times I have opened the pantry door and stood there looking to see if I have any of those pests.  Surely it has to be the weather conditions if all the problems are in Perth and nowhere else. You've had an extremely hot summer this year and I imagine you will all be glad to see the end of it soon.