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Monsoon is a beautiful season, bringing much-needed relief from the summer heat. However, it also brings high humidity, which can cause our kitchen ingredients to get infested quickly. Imagine opening a container of flour to find it crawling with pests or discovering that your precious rice stock has been invaded. These situations are all too common during the rainy season, but with a few simple hacks, you can keep your ingredients fresh and pest-free. Let’s explore some effective methods to protect your pantry items like pulses, flours, sugar, rice, and more during the monsoon.
Bay Leaf for Pulses and Flours
Bay leaves are a natural pest repellent. To keep pulses and flours free from insects, place a few dried bay leaves in the containers. The strong aroma of bay leaves deters pests like weevils and moths. Ensure the containers are airtight to maximize the effectiveness. This simple hack not only protects your ingredients but also imparts a mild aroma to them, adding an extra layer of freshness.
Sugar for Biscuits
To prevent biscuits from becoming soggy and infested, store them with a sugar sachet. Sugar acts as a natural desiccant, absorbing moisture and keeping the biscuits crisp and dry. You can make a small sachet by wrapping sugar in a piece of cloth or using silica gel packs available in stores. This method ensures your biscuits remain fresh and crunchy throughout the monsoon season.
Neem Leaf for Rice
Neem leaves are well-known for their antifungal and antibacterial properties. To protect rice from infestation, add a few dried neem leaves to the rice container. Neem leaves keep pests like rice weevils and beetles at bay. Ensure the neem leaves are completely dry to avoid any moisture build-up. This natural remedy is effective and eco-friendly, ensuring your rice stays clean and safe to consume.
Rice for Coffee
Humidity can cause coffee to clump and lose its flavour. To prevent this, place a small muslin cloth bag filled with rice in your coffee jar. Rice absorbs excess moisture, keeping your coffee dry and aromatic. This hack is especially useful if you store ground coffee, which is more susceptible to moisture. Remember to replace the rice bag periodically to maintain its effectiveness.
Cloves for Sugar
Sugar can attract ants and other pests during the monsoon. To protect it, add a few cloves to your sugar container. Cloves have a strong smell that repels ants and keeps sugar free from infestation. Additionally, cloves can help prevent the formation of lumps in sugar by absorbing excess moisture. This simple hack ensures your sugar remains fresh and pest-free.
Salt for Tamarind
Tamarind tends to get sticky and infested due to high humidity. To prevent this, store tamarind with a layer of salt. Salt acts as a natural preservative and prevents moisture build-up, keeping tamarind fresh and free from pests. Ensure the tamarind is stored in an airtight container to enhance the effectiveness of this method.
