darn irene

**Momto5RN** · 09-01-2011, 09:34 PM

even though dh sucked most of the water out with a shop vac over and over during 5+ hours to keep it from getting too much water - my basement was pretty damp

today i noticed several boxes of pasta bulging like the moisture caused the pasta to swell so i trashed all my boxed pasta - i had like 30 boxes worth

i am rearranging some storage bins and plan to use clear ones on the sheleves in the basement to keep things in that have no pastic protection like the pasta.

today thru saturday shoprite had pasta 49c a box limit of 4 of each type i planned to do a good mt of restocking but the shelves were bare

will look again tomorrow

**Libby** · 09-01-2011, 11:26 PM

Just a thought - are plastic storage boxes really 'air tight'? What about placing the boxes in large freezer sized/air tight zip bags?

Dad thought his storage box was 'air tight' enough for flour but nope..them bugs found their way in. I have since gone and purchased food storage containers specifically made to be air tight for the *new* bag of flour.

**Momto5RN** · 09-02-2011, 04:09 PM

bugs come in the flour so unless you freeze them for a day or so when you first get them the eggs will hatch as long as there is 0xygen for them to live.

i have stored pasta down there for years with no such issues just an extra wet august and irene did it in .

i dont need it to be air tight just extra protection from moisture in air - i have tried the plastic bags in the past when i had concerns re bugs and it just had them all toppled all over the shelving .

i bought a long adhesive strip of 3/8" foam stuff you use around doorways windows for preventing drafts - i plan to line around the inside top of the bins to make a better seal because the size i needed is what i already have and the lid just snaps on top no clipping it down tight .

i can do 4 bins for 3$ though so good price as compared to new bins

**sinopa27** · 09-03-2011, 02:34 AM

Originally Posted by Momto5RN

bugs come in the flour so unless you freeze them for a day or so when you first get them the eggs will hatch as long as there is 0xygen for them to live.

So that's what has to be done to flour!! I was wondering how people were able to keep lots of flour! Can you just the flour in the freezer?

**mamamia** · 09-03-2011, 02:53 AM

Originally Posted by sinopa27

So that's what has to be done to flour!! I was wondering how people were able to keep lots of flour! Can you just the flour in the freezer?

Yes, you sure can keep your flour in the freezer. That's what I do, and when I have the room, I store all my pasta in there too. I live in Fl. So heat, humidity, and bugs are part of life down here. At one time I had all my cake/brownie mixes in there too.

Theresa

**sinopa27** · 09-03-2011, 02:59 AM

Originally Posted by mamamia

Yes, you sure can keep your flour in the freezer. That's what I do, and when I have the room, I store all my pasta in there too. I live in Fl. So heat, humidity, and bugs are part of life down here. At one time I had all my cake/brownie mixes in there too.

Theresa

thank you!!! I have so much space in my freezer. I was told that it was inefficient to have an empty freezer. I know what to do now!! So do I need to "defrost" it when I am ready to use or it really doesn't freeze?