Since the lockdown, the prices of food items, including pulses and vegetables, have been growing continuously. In such a situation, if the pulses get spoiled due to frequent insect infestation, you have to throw away the whole box of pulses. Doesn't this thought give you chills and panic attacks? Therefore, storing pulses in an airtight container in a cool and dry place is always advisable. Despite taking all the precautions, you must have seen insects crawling in the legumes many times. But what if we share some simple ways that ensure your pulses are pest-free? And believe us, the solution lies in your kitchen cabinet!
- Neem leaves: These leaves act as a natural insecticide; they preserve pulses for a long time without any side effects. Neem has many medicinal properties enhancing your body, beauty, removing everyday problems and keeping your pulses safe. Putting neem leaves in pulses reduces the chances of getting insects, and even if there are insects, they die by consuming them.
- Store in the fridge: Keeping pulses in the fridge is best to protect them from insects. If you buy urad dal, gram, chana and moong dal in small quantities, then you can fill them in a container and keep them in the fridge. By doing this, the pulses do not spoil for a long time, and at the same time, it is protected from insects.
- Matchbox: You may find this remedy a bit strange, but it is a great way to drive away insects from pulses. Do you know why? Because the match stix contains sulfur, and insects do not like this chemical element. So keep the matchstick near the grain. By doing this, insects do not come near the pulses at all.
- Garlic: Put a lot of unpeeled garlic cloves in the container of lentils and stir it well. Once it dries, remove it and put in other buds. By adopting this hack, your pulses will remain safe and protected from insects for a long time.
- Cloves: These are readily available in every kitchen and help fight insects to avoid infection. You can even add clove oil to the disinfectant and use it to clean your pantry area and cabinet shelves.
- Mustard oil: After bringing the pulses, please put them in a dry container and add 1 to 2 teaspoons of mustard oil. After adding oil, mix it well. The pulse will not get spoiled by insects after this.
- Sunlight: If insects have attacked many lentils, put them in sunlight for a few days daily. Insects do not like the sunlight and flee to dark and damp places. So make it a regular habit.
By adopting these hacks, you can also protect your pulses from insects. Stay connected with Slurrp to get more such information.