Is Monsoon Spoiling Your Flour And Rice? 7 Easy Ways To Keep Kitchen Staples Fresh

Even though the rains promise beautiful weather, there is the additional factor of moisture in the air. And moisture is what facilitates the growth of rice weevils, flour moths and mould in the kitchen. Flour, rice, semolina and pulses get clumped together or acidic in just a couple of days owing to the moisture content in the air. To prevent the whole month’s stock of grains from becoming waste in the rainy season, the following are seven tips on keeping kitchen stock dry and fresh.

7 Easy Ways to Keep Kitchen Staples Fresh During Monsoon

Here are seven easy ways to keep your kitchen staples fresh during monsoon.

1. Switch to Airtight Glass or Stainless Steel Containers

Original paper or plastic grocery sacks are very likely to absorb moisture in the months of high humidity. Shift your wheat flour, rice, and pulses to completely dry airtight containers of either stainless steel or glass jars with rubber seals. Airtight sealing prevents humid air from reaching them.

2. Buy in Smaller Quantities

The flour of whole wheat and millet has natural fats which become rancid if kept for a long time under heat and moisture conditions. Rather than buying in bulk every month during the rainy season, a 2-3 weeks' supply can be purchased at once.\

3. Tuck Natural Insect Repellents Into Jars

Avoid using chemical insecticides and use natural aromatic substances right in your storage containers. Mixing 3-4 bay leaves, some neem leaves, or cloves with your rice, flour, or pulses will help keep weevils at bay and will not affect the taste of your food.

4. Never Scoop with Wet Hands or Wet Spoons

The first thing that can spoil flour and rice is water. One must make sure that his or her spoon is completely dry when scooping out any ingredient from it, and he or she should not keep any container above a cooking pot because water vapour forms below the lid and leads to mould formation.

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5. Sun-Dry Staples Before Storing

Rice, pulses, or sooji must be spread evenly on a plate in direct sunlight for about 3 to 4 hours before putting any fresh stock in them. The direct heat will remove all traces of moisture and kill any insect eggs that may be present. Another way is to sun-dry the sooji or besan in a pan.

6. Refrigerate Perishable Flours

Flours with low amounts of gluten, such as rice flour or millet flours like ragi, jowar, or bajra, are more perishable in humid environments than wheat flour. These fragile flours should be stored in airtight or Ziploc bags in the fridge. The cold, low-moisture air stops all pests from attacking the flour.

7. Store Grain Bins Away From Damp Walls and Sinks

Placement is equally important as the storage containers themselves. It is important to make sure that the storage containers are well above ground level and not stored in proximity to kitchen sinks, damp outside walls, or gas stoves. Ideal storage locations during monsoon season will be in the higher, dry pantry shelves.

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Conclusion

Monsoon humidity should not necessarily place pressure on your finances or food storage system. Simple things like having an airtight container and purchasing food products in smaller quantities, along with making use of repellents in the form of bay leaves, will help keep the food grains free from any pest invasion and wastage. A quick check of your food items once a week is all that’s needed.

Image credits: Freepik

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