In the summer, many people buy too much rice and find that there are worms in the rice before they finish eating it. Some friends don't know what to do and wonder if they can still eat the rice with worms. So what should you do if you find worms in your rice in the summer?
What to do when rice has worms – Tips for handling
Sun exposure to drive away rice weevils
If you find worms in your rice, you can spread the rice out on a piece of paper so that when the worms see the sunlight, they will crawl away. However, there are a few things to note:
1. Do not expose the rice directly to sunlight, as it can make the rice brittle and affect the taste.
2. After the worms have crawled away, store the rice in a new bag to prevent any remaining worms from breeding in the rice.
3. Carefully inspect the area where you stored the rice to see if there are any weevils in other foods. It's best to consume the rice with worms as soon as possible.
Fumigation with organic acids to kill rice weevils
If there are a lot of weevils in the rice, you can fumigate them with zinc phosphide and organic acids. Here's how:
Seal the weevil-infested rice in a plastic bag and moisten it with a bowl of vinegar. Then add 1g of zinc phosphide to the bag and seal it tightly. After about 5-10 days, the weevils will be killed, and the rice can be consumed after being left for 2-3 days.
In addition to using pest control methods, it is also important to pay attention to storage. In the summer, the climate is humid and the temperature is high, making it easy for weevils to breed. The most effective method is to store the rice in a well-ventilated and cool place; then find a clean.
Freezing to drive away weevils
If the infestation of weevils in the rice is not severe, you can put the rice bag in the freezer and let it freeze indoors. After 24 hours of freezing, the weevils will usually turn red or black, making them easy to spot and remove without affecting the original taste of the rice.
Rinsing with water to remove worms
If there are only a few worms in the rice, you can rinse it with water before cooking. Rinse it several times while stirring, and the black or white worms will float on the water surface. Pour out the water, and the worms will be removed along with it.
Sichuan peppercorns to repel weevils
Sichuan peppercorns can repel weevils because of their unique flavor. Here's how: Take 30 Sichuan peppercorns and wrap them in gauze. Place them at the bottom, middle, and top of the rice to effectively repel weevils.
Fumigation with white wine to repel weevils
Take a bottle and pour in about 50ml of white wine. Place the bottle in the rice without closing the lid, but make sure the bottle is higher than the rice. Then seal the rice bag. The ethanol in the white wine will evaporate and has insecticidal effects.
Garlic to drive away weevils
Take cloves of garlic, peel them, and put them into the rice. For every 5kg of rice, put in 12 cloves of garlic. This can effectively repel weevils.
Why does rice get infested with weevils?
1. The grains may already be carrying weevil eggs when they are still in the field. Rice has a high starch content and is rich in protein, so it usually does not get infested with weevils. However, when the external environment reaches a temperature of 20°C-40°C and a humidity of 6%-95%, weevils can easily hatch and reproduce at a rapid pace.
2. Rice containers or bags may have weevil eggs hidden in the cracks. When there is rice in the house and the external temperature reaches a certain value, weevils will hatch.
Can you still eat rice with weevils?
Rice with weevils can generally be divided into two types: white worms and small black bugs, also known as rice weevils.
Rice with only weevils and no mold can still be consumed
Rice has a high starch content and protein. If the rice has not been infested with weevils for a long time and there is no mold or discoloration, it can still be eaten. Weevils mainly feed on water and starch in the rice, and the weevils themselves are not toxic. Before cooking the rice, rinse it with water to remove the weevils.
Rice infested with weevils for too long or with hollowed-out grains should not be eaten
If you find that the rice has been infested with weevils for a long time and they are everywhere, the rice may have become hollow or broken. In this case, it is best not to consume the rice as it will have a poor taste and significant nutrient loss.
What to do with rice infested with weevils that cannot be eaten
Feed the infested rice to poultry
If the rice is heavily infested with weevils, you can feed it to chickens. Chickens can eat the weevils and the rice, so it won't waste the nutritional content of the rice and it won't go to waste either.
How to prevent rice from getting infested with weevils
Put some quicklime to repel weevils
Placing some quicklime underneath the rice can prevent weevil infestation. Quicklime can absorb moisture and keep the rice container dry, preventing the rice from becoming moldy. Additionally, quicklime turns into slaked lime after absorbing moisture, and slaked lime can denature proteins, effectively killing bacteria and insects.
Note: Place the quicklime at the bottom and separate it with a thin cloth to avoid accidental ingestion. If you can't get quicklime, you can save some small packets of preservatives from snacks, which have the same effect.
Store the rice in the refrigerator
Storing rice in the refrigerator is one way to prevent weevil infestation. Low temperatures can reduce the oxidation of rice oil and the breeding of weevils.
Note: When storing rice in the refrigerator, make sure to pack it in a plastic bag. Rice stored at low temperatures should not be placed back at room temperature, as temperature changes can cause the rice to absorb moisture and become damp.
Dry Sichuan peppercorns to repel weevils
Place a few small packets of dried Sichuan peppercorns in the rice to prevent weevil infestation. Sichuan peppercorns are a natural antioxidant with a unique aroma that can effectively repel weevils.
Note: Use fresh Sichuan peppercorns with a strong aroma. Replace them with fresh ones after a certain period of time when the aroma of the peppercorns fades. Wrap the Sichuan peppercorns in gauze.
Fumigation with white wine to repel weevils
Ethanol in white wine has insecticidal and antibacterial effects, making it effective in repelling weevils.
Method: Place a bottle of white wine in the middle of the rice container, with the bottle mouth higher than the rice surface and without a lid. Proper sealing of the rice bag can prevent weevil infestation.
