Holiday baking alert: Keep this ingredient out of your cookies

A home baker's horrifying discovery of insects crawling through her stored flour has sparked widespread concern among holiday bakers, prompting food safety experts to issue storage warnings ahead of peak cookie-making season.

TikTok user Jenna (@jennaliveswell) discovered weevils in flour while preparing for holiday baking, prompting widespread concern among home bakers on social media platforms.

"Last time I used normal people flour was this time last year," Jenna said in her viral video, expressing shock at finding insects in her stored flour. "Were they just chilling in my pantry all year? Why did my container not prevent this?"

Food safety expert Bryan Quoc Le, Ph.D., told Delish that weevil infestations often originate before flour reaches consumers' homes.

"The infestation can start further up the supply chain, such as during granary storage, distribution, and storage at the retailer," Quoc Le said. He explained that weevils typically infest whole kernels and lay eggs inside wheat grains before milling.

According to The Spruce, an authoritative home and garden resource, weevils commonly infest flour, rice, cornmeal, and other dry goods stored in pantries. While the presence of these insects may be alarming, food safety experts emphasize that prevention methods exist.

Quoc Le recommends freezing flour for seven days to eliminate potential eggs in the powder. 

Bakers should then allow the flour to defrost completely before use.

"Kernels that contain insects may pass visual inspection during processing, leading to the growth of weevils in the downstream product," Quoc Le said. This understanding highlights the importance of proper storage methods at home.

Quoc Le advises using airtight containers with no openings or cracks for effective pest prevention. These containers should be made of glass, metal, or strong plastic. Additionally, maintaining a clean pantry environment proves crucial for preventing infestations.

"As for flour that already contains weevils, the airtight container will not help protect the flour," Quoc Le noted. "But it will help prevent them from spreading and infesting other food in the pantry, or becoming a problem if they lay eggs there."

In response to Jenna's video, social media users shared their experiences and prevention methods. One user suggested placing bay leaves around pantry shelves, noting the herbs' natural repellent properties.

"If you leave bay leaves scattered around the shelves of your pantry, they repel weevils. Change leaves every few months. Learned it from my mom. I have never had weevils in my pantry or food," the user commented.

Another user shared a cautionary tale: "I once found weevils in my oats and did not eat grains for a year."

Food safety experts emphasize that finding insects in stored ingredients can be distressing. Proper storage practices and regular inspection can effectively prevent most infestations. They recommend checking all dry goods thoroughly before use, especially during peak baking seasons when ingredients might have been stored for extended periods.

For home bakers preparing to start their holiday baking, experts advise inspecting current ingredients and implementing proper storage methods before purchasing new supplies. This proactive approach helps ensure food safety and quality during the busy baking season.

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